Measles vaccination: revised recommendations for immunization

Abstract

Recently, outbreaks of measles have occurred across the United States among infants and young children with low rates of immunization, and among schoolage and college students with high rates of immunization. Because of these outbreaks, the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics has changed its recommendations for measles vaccination. New recommendations for routine vaccination are two doses of MMR, one at 15 months and one at age 11 or 12, when a child enters middle school. For infants and children considered to be at increased risk, three doses are recommended: the first at 12 months, the second at 15 months and the third at 11 or 12 years. With school outbreaks, revaccination is recommended for all students, siblings of students and school personnel born on or after January 1, 1957, who did not receive two doses of MMR after 12 months of age. Primary care providers have the opportunity to be on the front lines for the education of the public, the implementation of the recommendations and the ultimate eradication of the disease.