Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:

Measles Vaccination
Pronounced (MEE-zills)

Measles Advisory—Measles is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted by respiratory droplets and airborne spread. The disease can result in severe complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis. Although measles is no longer a common disease in the United States, it remains widespread in most countries of the world, including some countries in Europe. Current outbreaks in the United States highlight the ongoing risk of measles importations from other countries by people who travel. These outbreaks also highlight the importance of vaccination to prevent imported measles cases and to prevent the spread of such cases in susceptible U.S. populations. A recent CDC Health Advisory provides information regarding measles outbreaks in the United States and about the prevention and control of the disease: Measles outbreaks in the United States: Public health preparedness, control and response in healthcare settings and the community.

IMPORTANT: Measles Update: Outbreaks Continue in U.S.

 

What You Should Know

• Brief description
  Symptoms, treatment, transmission, etc.
• Questions and Answers
• About measles and measles vaccination (.pdf, 34 KB, 2 pages)
  Parent's Guide to Childhood Immunization     (screen-reader version) (.rtf, 29 KB, 2 pages)
• Pictures of Measles
  Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic.
• Travelers information
  Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, etc.
• Global measles disease
  Goals, initatives, and global elimination

The measles disease can be prevented by the combination vaccine: MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella). In 2005, a combination MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) vaccine was licensed.

• As an adult, do I need this vaccine?
  (19 years and older)
• Measles - Recommendations for Prevention   Updated July 23, 2008
• Side Effects
• Precautions, side-effects, and combination vaccines (.pdf, 78 KB, 3 pages)
  Parents Guide to Immunizations      (screen-reader version) (.doc, 117 KB, 28 pages)
• Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
• Questions and Answers from IAC (exit)
• Questions and Answers about Measles, the vaccines, and precautions
• School Vaccine Requirements
• History of the MMR vaccine (exit)
• Decision Aid: Considering MMR vaccination for your child? (exit)
  An aid developed in Australia

• Febrile seizures after MMR-DTP vaccinations
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and MMR vaccine

Autism Theory

• MMR vaccine and autism theory
• Does MMR vaccine cause autism? Examine the evidence (exit)
  Immunization Action Coalition
• Other scientists have not been able to reproduce the results claimed by Dr Wakefield and his team regarding measles virus (exit)
  WHO statement on the use of MMR vaccine 
• Is there any scientific evidence that proves a link between autism & vaccines? (exit)
  NIH, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• More... (exit)

As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.

• Are vaccines safe? (exit)
  FAQs on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website
• Multiple or combined vaccines and the immune system
• CDC's Vaccine Safety website
  • General | concerns | report a suspected vaccine reaction | for parents
• Hot Topics (exit)
  Vaccine safety topics on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website
• Lessening the Pain of Vaccines (exit)
  Techniques worth trying

• What if we stopped vaccinating for this disease?
• Who should not be vaccinated with MMR vaccine?
• Pregnancy guidelines

For Health Professionals

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