Who should receive MMR vaccine?
The principal strategy to prevent mumps is to achieve and maintain high immunization levels. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all preschool aged children 12 months of age and older receive 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) and all school-aged children receive two doses of MMR, and to ensure that all adults have evidence of immunity against mumps. As noted below, two doses of mumps vaccine are more effective than a single dose. Consequently, during outbreaks and for at-risk populations, ensuring high vaccination coverage with two doses is encouraged. For example, health care workers may be at increased risk of acquiring mumps and transmitting to patients and thus should receive two doses of MMR vaccine or provide proof of immunity.
The principal strategy to prevent mumps is to achieve and maintain high immunization levels. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all preschool aged children 12 months of age and older receive 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) and all school-aged children receive two doses of MMR, and to ensure that all adults have evidence of immunity against mumps. As noted below, two doses of mumps vaccine are more effective than a single dose. Consequently, during outbreaks and for at-risk populations, ensuring high vaccination coverage with two doses is encouraged. For example, h ealth care workers may be at increased risk of acquiring mumps and transmitting to patients and thus should receive two doses of MMR vaccine or provide proof of immunity. Since vaccination is the cornerstone of mumps prevention, public and private health entities concerned about spread of mumps in a population can review the vaccination status of populations of interest and w
All children should receive the MMR vaccine. Two doses are needed for lifelong protection. The first dose is given at one year of age and the second dose at preschool age. If all children were given this vaccine, these diseases could be eliminated. If you are a woman of childbearing age and you are not immune to rubella, you should get the MMR vaccine as soon as possible. There is no evidence the vaccine will harm unborn children, but you should not have it while pregnant. You should wait at least one month after getting the vaccine before becoming pregnant. • Young children given the MMR vaccine are no risk to pregnant women as the virus in the vaccine does not spread from person to person.
• Everyone born after 1970. • Children should receive 2 doses of MMR vaccine. Who should not receive MMR? • Anyone born in 1970 or earlier. • Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine. A history of contact dermatitis to neomycin is not a contraindication. • Pregnant women (avoid pregnancy for one month after immunization). • Anyone who has received any kind of immune globulin within the last 3-11 months (discuss with the Public Health Nurse). • Anyone with a lowered immune response, due to disease or therapy. • People with moderate to severe illness may have to delay immunization. • NOTE: Anyone with a history of a life threatening allergy to eggs should be observed by the public health nurse for at least 30 minutes after immunization. When should the vaccine be given? • At 1 year and again at 18 months of age. • Grade 12.
All children (who do not have a medical contraindication) routinely should receive MMR#1 at 12-15 months of age. All children routinely should receive MMR#2 by the time of school entry. Children who are brought “early” for MMR#2 should be vaccinated, provided that MMR#1 and MMR#2 are separated by at least 28 days. Children in grades K – 12 enrolled in any public or private school in Alaska are required to have documentation of two doses of measles vaccine. In Anchorage, students who do not have two doses of measles vaccine (or either serologic proof of immunity or a valid medical or religious exemption) by November 16, 1998 will be excluded from school. The cut-off date for the remainder of the state is January 4, 1999 though schools may choose to impose an earlier deadline. If the outbreak spreads to younger children, the two-dose requirement may be expanded to include licensed pre-schools and child-care facilities.
