Can a 6-month-old infant receive the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine if traveling to a high-risk area?

From the Guidelines

Yes, a 6-month-old baby can receive the MMR vaccine if they are traveling to a high-risk area, but this is considered an off-label use and should be discussed with a pediatrician or travel medicine specialist. The MMR vaccine is not recommended for infants younger than 12 months because maternal antibodies can interfere with the vaccine's effectiveness, and the immune system may not respond adequately 1. However, for travel to high-risk areas, the CDC recommends that infants 6-11 months receive an early dose of MMR, which is considered a supplemental dose and not part of the routine schedule 1. After this early dose, the child would still need the regular two-dose series starting at 12-15 months. Some key points to consider:

• The MMR vaccine is generally very safe, with most side effects being mild (fever, rash, temporary pain at injection site) 1.
• Serious adverse reactions are extremely rare 1.
• For infants traveling to high-risk areas, parents should consult with their pediatrician or a travel medicine specialist who can provide personalized recommendations based on the specific destination, duration of travel, and the child's health status 1.
• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended the use of MMR vaccine for infants aged 6-11 months who will travel or live abroad or during measles outbreaks 1. It's also worth noting that the ACIP considered PRIORIX, a new MMR vaccine, to be safe, immunogenic, and noninferior to M-M-R II, and it can be used for off-label indications, including measles postexposure prophylaxis 1.

From the Research

MMR Vaccine Administration for 6-Month-Old Babies Traveling to High-Risk Areas

• The MMR vaccine is typically administered to children at 12 through 15 months of age, with a second dose at 4 through 6 years of age 2.
• However, for children traveling to high-risk areas, the vaccine may be administered earlier, but there is no specific recommendation for 6-month-old babies in the provided studies.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide guidelines for vaccine administration, but these guidelines do not specifically address the administration of MMR vaccine to 6-month-old babies traveling to high-risk areas.

Safety and Immunogenicity of MMR Vaccine

• The MMR vaccine has been shown to be safe and immunogenic in children and adults, with common adverse events including transient injection site pain and fever 3.
• Serious adverse events are extremely rare, with only 4 probable or potential vaccine-related events reported among 12,032 participating subjects in clinical trials published from 2010 to 2019 3.
• The vaccine has been consistently shown to be effective in preventing measles, mumps, and rubella, with an effectiveness of 83.4% for MMR post-exposure prophylaxis 4.

Travel Vaccine Recommendations for Children

• Children traveling internationally should be up to date on routine vaccinations, including MMR, and receive travel-specific vaccinations as recommended by the CDC 5.
• The CDC website provides travel vaccine recommendations, and physicians should consult this resource to determine the necessary vaccinations for children traveling to high-risk areas 5.
• While there is no specific recommendation for 6-month-old babies, children must remain up to date on universally recommended vaccines and receive the appropriate vaccines before international travel to prevent serious illness and limit the spread of diseases in the United States 5.