From the Guidelines
The MMR vaccine should be administered subcutaneously (SC), not intramuscularly (IM), as recommended by the most recent and highest quality study available 1. The standard dose is 0.5 mL for all age groups. The vaccine is typically given as a two-dose series, with the first dose at 12-15 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years of age. For adults without evidence of immunity, two doses separated by at least 28 days are recommended. The subcutaneous route is preferred because it provides optimal absorption of the vaccine components and minimizes local reactions. While other routes of administration may be technically acceptable in certain situations, the subcutaneous route is standard practice for MMR vaccination to ensure proper immune response and efficacy. Key points to consider when administering the MMR vaccine include:
- The vaccine should be reconstituted and administered as recommended by the manufacturer 2.
- The vaccine should not be administered intravenously or intradermally.
- Simultaneous administration of other vaccines should be done according to recommended guidelines. It is essential to follow the recommended route of administration to ensure the vaccine's efficacy and safety, as supported by the highest quality evidence available 1.
From the Research
Administration of MMR Vaccine
- The MMR vaccine can be administered via intramuscular (IM) injection, as evidenced by a study that compared the immunogenicity and safety of IM and subcutaneous (SC) administration of a combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine to children 12 to 18 months of age 3.
- Another study also administered the MMR vaccine intramuscularly to infants aged 5-7 months, with no significant difference in the rate of hospitalizations for infection compared to the placebo group 4.
Immunogenicity and Safety
- The IM administration of the MMR vaccine was shown to be highly immunogenic and well-tolerated, with antibody response rates for all vaccine antigens >99% in both the IM and SC groups 3.
- The safety profile of the MMR vaccine was also evaluated in a review of clinical trials published between 2010 and 2019, which found that the vaccine was well-tolerated and immunogenic in all age groups studied, with serious adverse events being extremely rare 5.
Comparison of Administration Routes
- A study compared the IM and SC administration of the MMRV vaccine and found that the IM route resulted in fewer injection-site adverse events compared to the SC route 3.
- The study also found that the IM administration of the MMRV vaccine was as immunogenic as the SC administration for all antigens, with lower bounds of the two-sided 95% CIs for the difference in response rates for all antigens greater than -10% 3.