Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

The basics of the MMR vaccine from a pediatrician

Roy Benaroch, MD
Meds
July 8, 2019
Share
Tweet
Share

As the U.S. endures its largest measles outbreak in 25 years — one that’s almost certainly going to get worse before it gets better — we’re getting a lot of calls and questions at my office. What’s measles, what’s the best way to prevent it, when should the vaccine be given to adults and children?

The measles vaccine is given as “MMR,” which teaches the immune system to fight off measles, mumps, and rubella. It’s a very effective vaccine that confers lifelong immunity. A single dose is about 93 percent effective, and two doses get that up to 97 percent. There aren’t many other preventive interventions in medicine that are even close to that good.

The first dose should be given between 12 and 15 months of age, though at this point I’d say 12 months is better. Why wait until 12 months? Earlier than that, babies may still have enough antibodies from their mother to partially block the effectiveness of the vaccine.

But in some circumstances, you should get that first dose early, as early as six months. If there’s a high risk of exposure, an early dose (though imperfect) will give at least some protection. That dose should then be repeated at 12 months. Who’s at high risk of exposure? Anyone who’s living in a community with cases of measles — that includes, as I’m writing this, areas of New York, Michigan, and California. Plus the Philippines, Israel, and Ukraine. And, really, most of Europe. If you’re traveling with your baby under 12 months out of the U.S. (or even within the U.S.), you should look at the news and talk with your child’s doctor about getting an early dose of MMR.

The second dose of MMR is traditionally given at age 4 to 6 years, prior to school entry. But that timing was chosen for purely administrative reasons — kids almost always come in for a preschool physical, and they also need doses of polio and DTaP vaccines, which must be given after the fourth birthday. But that second dose of MMR can be given much earlier. It will be just as safe and effective if given any time four weeks or more after the first dose. So if the first dose is given right at 12 months, the second dose could be given at 13 months (or, more likely, at 15 months, since that’s when the next check-up age falls.)

Again, if you’re living in or traveling to an area experiencing a measles outbreak, you should get that second dose early. There is no downside. Honestly, there’s no reason why any of our young babies should wait until age 4 to get it — it’s just a bit of history and convenience that placed the second dose at age 4. If your children do get the second dose early, keep in mind that they do not ALSO need a dose at age 4. (Though a third dose will not be harmful, it’s just not necessary.)

Roy Benaroch is a pediatrician who blogs at the Pediatric Insider. He is also the author of A Guide to Getting the Best Health Care for Your Child and the creator of The Great Courses’ Medical School for Everyone: Grand Rounds Cases.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

After cancer treatment: It's time to reconsider the ringing of the bell

July 8, 2019 Kevin 2
…
Next

Being a doctor matters less to this physician

July 9, 2019 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: Pediatrics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
After cancer treatment: It's time to reconsider the ringing of the bell
Next Post >
Being a doctor matters less to this physician

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Roy Benaroch, MD

  • Goodbye, Benadryl: It is time for you to retire

    Roy Benaroch, MD
  • Telemedicine overprescribes antibiotics: Are you really receiving the best care over the phone?

    Roy Benaroch, MD
  • No, phones don’t cause horns to grow on skulls

    Roy Benaroch, MD

Related Posts

  • Should adults receive another dose of MMR?

    Roy Benaroch, MD
  • No, the HPV vaccine isn’t optional

    Chad Hayes, MD
  • A view from Canada: Defending vaccine passports

    Bryan Thomas and Colleen M. Flood
  • Major medical groups back mandatory COVID vaccine for health care workers

    Molly Walker
  • Novavax may be able to provide equitable access to another vaccine alternative

    Vibhav Prabhakar, Tejas Sekhar, and Divya Srinivasan
  • Using probiotics in children: a pediatrician’s take

    Christopher Johnson, MD

More in Meds

  • Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis

    Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD
  • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

    GJ van Londen, MD
  • Pharmacists are key to expanding Medicaid access to digital therapeutics

    Amanda Matter
  • How medicine repurposing enables value-based pain management and insomnia therapy

    Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD
  • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • From stigma to science: Rethinking the U.S. drug scheduling system

    Artin Asadipooya
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • Aging in place: Why home care must replace nursing homes

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • How federal actions threaten vaccine policy and trust

      American College of Physicians | Conditions
    • When the clinic becomes the battlefield: Defending rural health care in the age of AI-driven attacks

      Holland Haynie, MD | Physician
    • Stop medicalizing burnout and start healing the culture [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why so many doctors secretly feel like imposters

      Ryan Nadelson, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
  • Recent Posts

    • Stop medicalizing burnout and start healing the culture [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
    • Stop blaming burnout: the real cause of unhappiness

      Sanj Katyal, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the martyrdom trap in medicine

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • What a Nicaraguan village taught a U.S. doctor about true care

      Prasanthi Reddy, MD | Physician
    • ChatGPT in health care: risks, benefits, and safer options

      Erica Dorn, FNP | Tech

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • Aging in place: Why home care must replace nursing homes

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • How federal actions threaten vaccine policy and trust

      American College of Physicians | Conditions
    • When the clinic becomes the battlefield: Defending rural health care in the age of AI-driven attacks

      Holland Haynie, MD | Physician
    • Stop medicalizing burnout and start healing the culture [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why so many doctors secretly feel like imposters

      Ryan Nadelson, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
  • Recent Posts

    • Stop medicalizing burnout and start healing the culture [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
    • Stop blaming burnout: the real cause of unhappiness

      Sanj Katyal, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the martyrdom trap in medicine

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • What a Nicaraguan village taught a U.S. doctor about true care

      Prasanthi Reddy, MD | Physician
    • ChatGPT in health care: risks, benefits, and safer options

      Erica Dorn, FNP | Tech

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...