From the Guidelines
Adults born in 1957 or later who have no documentation of 1 or more doses of MMR vaccine and do not have a medical contraindication should receive the MMR booster. This is based on the recommendation from the Annals of Internal Medicine study 1. The following groups are specifically recommended to receive a routine second dose of MMR vaccine:
- Students in postsecondary educational institutions
- Healthcare personnel
- Individuals who plan to travel internationally Additionally, persons who received inactivated (killed) measles vaccine or measles vaccine of unknown type from 1963 to 1967 should be revaccinated with 2 doses of MMR vaccine, as stated in the study 1. It is also important to note that for women of childbearing age, rubella immunity should be determined, and if there is no evidence of immunity, they should be vaccinated, according to the study 1. Overall, the MMR booster is crucial in preventing the spread of measles, mumps, and rubella, and maintaining high vaccination rates is essential for protecting vulnerable populations through herd immunity.
From the Research
Individuals Requiring MMR Booster
The following individuals may need an MMR booster:
- Children who have not received two doses of the MMR vaccine, as two doses are widely recommended for adequate immunity 2, 3
- Children aged 5 to 6 years who have previously received a first dose of MMR or MMRV vaccine, as a second dose is likely to be required for elimination of childhood varicella 3
- Individuals who have not achieved seroconversion after two doses of the MMR vaccine, although the need for a booster in this case is still being studied 4
- People who were vaccinated with an inactivated measles vaccine, which was used in the 1960s, as this vaccine is not as effective as the current live attenuated vaccine 4
Special Considerations
- The MMRV vaccine, which combines the MMR vaccine with the varicella vaccine, has been shown to be immunogenic and safe in children aged 15 months to 6 years who have previously received a dose of MMR vaccine 2, 5, 6
- The immunogenicity and safety of the MMRV vaccine are similar to those of the separately administered MMR and varicella vaccines 2, 3, 5, 6