What is the recommended administration route for Priorix (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine)?

From the Guidelines

Priorix, a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, should be administered via subcutaneous injection. This route of administration is recommended based on the most recent guidelines from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices 1. The vaccine is supplied as a lyophilized antigen that needs to be reconstituted with a sterile water diluent, and a single dose after reconstitution is approximately 0.5 mL.

Key Administration Guidelines

• The vaccine should be administered subcutaneously, similar to the M-M-R II vaccine 1.
• The preferred sites for injection are not explicitly mentioned in the most recent guideline 1, but based on general vaccination practices, the upper arm (deltoid region) or the anterolateral aspect of the thigh in younger children are common sites.
• The vaccine should never be administered intravenously or intradermally, as this could lead to adverse reactions or reduced efficacy.
• Before administration, the vaccine should be reconstituted with the provided diluent and used promptly after reconstitution to ensure potency and safety.
• Healthcare providers should ensure proper aseptic technique during preparation and administration to minimize the risk of infection or other complications.

Vaccination Schedule

• The complete vaccination schedule typically involves two doses, with the first dose recommended at age 12–15 months, and the second dose at age 4–6 years 1.
• For catch-up vaccination of previously unvaccinated children and adolescents, two doses are also recommended 1.

The subcutaneous route is preferred for this live attenuated vaccine as it allows for an optimal immune response while minimizing adverse reactions 1. This administration route ensures the vaccine components are properly processed by the immune system, stimulating the production of antibodies against measles, mumps, and rubella viruses.

From the FDA Drug Label

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 0.7 mL Syringe 10 Single-Dose 0.7-mL Syringes This carton contains 10 prefilled syringes. Each prefilled syringe contains 0.7 mL of sterile diluent. Use one prefilled syringe for reconstitution of one single-dose vial of live virus vaccine.

The recommended administration route for Priorix (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine) is subcutaneous (SQ), as indicated by the drug name: measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (SQ) 2.

From the Research

Administration Route for Priorix

The recommended administration route for Priorix, a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, is typically subcutaneous, but it can also be administered intramuscularly.

• The study 3 compared intramuscular and subcutaneous administration of a measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine (Priorix-Tetra) in children and found that both routes were well tolerated and highly immunogenic.
• Another study 4 evaluated the intramuscular administration of a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (M-M-RvaxPro) and found that it was comparable to subcutaneous administration in terms of immunogenicity and safety.
• A review of the Priorix vaccine 5 noted that it is a trivalent live attenuated measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine that has demonstrated high immunogenicity and good tolerability in clinical trials.
• Additional studies 6 have also compared intramuscular and subcutaneous administration of combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines and found that both routes are highly immunogenic and well tolerated.

Key Findings

• Both intramuscular and subcutaneous administration routes are effective for Priorix vaccination 3, 4, 6.
• The immunogenicity and safety of Priorix are comparable to other measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines 5.
• The choice of administration route may depend on individual patient factors and clinical preference 4, 6.