From the Guidelines
People born in 1957 or later should get at least one dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine if they don't have evidence of immunity. The CDC recommends that adults born in 1957 or later who don't have documentation of vaccination or other evidence of immunity should receive at least one dose of MMR vaccine 1. For certain high-risk groups, such as healthcare workers, college students, and international travelers, two doses of MMR vaccine are recommended, separated by at least 28 days. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, providing long-lasting protection against these diseases. This recommendation exists because people born before 1957 are generally considered immune to measles, mumps, and rubella as they likely had natural infection during childhood when these diseases were common. The vaccine prevents serious complications from these diseases, which can include pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death in severe cases. Side effects from the MMR vaccine are typically mild and temporary, such as soreness at the injection site, fever, or mild rash.
Key Points
- Adults born in 1957 or later should have documentation of 1 or more doses of MMR vaccine unless they have a medical contraindication to the vaccine, or laboratory evidence of immunity to each of the 3 diseases 1.
- A routine second dose of MMR vaccine, administered a minimum of 28 days after the first dose, is recommended for adults who are students in postsecondary educational institutions, work in a health care facility, or plan to travel internationally 1.
- 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 1.
- The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, providing long-lasting protection against measles, mumps, and rubella, and preventing serious complications from these diseases 1.
Recommendation
All adults born in 1957 or later should receive at least one dose of MMR vaccine if they don't have evidence of immunity, unless they have a medical contraindication to the vaccine, or laboratory evidence of immunity to each of the 3 diseases 1.
From the Research
MMR Vaccine Booster for Individuals Born in 1957
- The available evidence does not specifically address the need for a Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine booster for individuals born in 1957 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Studies have shown that the MMR vaccine is highly immunogenic, with seroconversion rates of 95 to 100% being achieved for each of the 3 component vaccines, and this immunity appears to be long-lasting and may even be lifelong 2.
- However, recent mumps outbreaks in vaccinated populations have raised questions about the clinical efficacy of the MMR vaccine, particularly in young adults 6.
- Research has demonstrated that a second dose of the MMR vaccine can induce robust immune responses and is well-tolerated in individuals aged 7 years or older who have received at least one previous dose of the vaccine 4.
- The effectiveness of the MMR vaccine in preventing measles, mumps, and rubella has been well-documented, with one dose being at least 95% effective in preventing clinical measles and 92% effective in preventing secondary cases among household contacts 3, 5.
- While there is evidence to suggest that the MMR vaccine may not provide lifelong immunity to mumps, the vaccine has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms, complications, and viral shedding in vaccinated individuals 6.
Factors Influencing MMR Vaccine Effectiveness
- Vaccine hesitancy, heterogeneous vaccine uptake, primary, and/or secondary vaccine failures have been identified as contributing factors to mumps outbreaks in highly vaccinated populations 6.
- The circulating mumps virus genotype and the limitations of current laboratory tests in confirming protection in vaccinated individuals may also impact the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine 6.
- The interplay of these factors highlights the need for ongoing assessment and potential revision of vaccination strategies to ensure optimal protection against measles, mumps, and rubella 6.