Measles Vaccinations

Measles Vaccination In Routine Scenarios

High rates of vaccination in communities is a critical component of preventing measles outbreaks. Please ensure that all of your patients for whom MMR vaccination is indicated are up-to-date. Current CDC recommendations for MMR vaccine are here.

Healthcare personnel should have 2 documented doses of MMR vaccine, or documented evidence of immunity against measles.

Measles Vaccinations in Special Scenarios

Healthcare providers should consider the following steps for patients who might be at increased risk of measles exposure, such as people planning to travel to areas with measles outbreaks (see list of measles outbreaks reported to CDC here or who might have contact with visitors from these areas:

  • Children 6-11 months old: Give an initial MMR vaccine to children 6 months through 11 months of age
    to help protect them against measles. These children must be revaccinated when they are 12 through 15
    months old and again when they are 4 through 6 years of age.
  • Children 1-3 years old: Give a second dose of MMR vaccine to children 1 year through 3 years of age
    who have already received their first MMR vaccine, as long as 28 days have passed since the first MMR
    vaccine was given to them.
  • Adults: In adults born after 1957 who have only received 1 dose of MMR vaccine, give a second dose of
    vaccine. MMR vaccine can also be given to adults born before 1957 if prior exposure to measles is
    uncertain.

Letter from the Maryland Department of Health:

Measles Awareness Notification 2019