Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content

About the Vaccine

One of the Recommended Vaccines by Disease


MMR and MMRV Vaccine Composition and Dosage

Two vaccines containing measles, mumps, and rubella virus are licensed for use in the United States.

  • M-M-R II® is a combination measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
  • ProQuad® is a combination measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.

Both vaccines contain live, attenuated measles, mumps, and rubella virus. MMRV also contains live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus. All vaccine strains, including the Moraten strain (used in the United States) and the Edmonston- Zagreb strain are in genotype A.

The lyophilized live MMR vaccine and MMRV vaccine should be reconstituted and administered as recommended by the manufacturer1,2.

For package inserts, see M-M-R II, ProQuad

Footnotes

  1. Merck & Co. Inc. M-M-R II (Measles, mumps, and rubella virus vaccine live); 2009.
  2. Merck & Co. Inc. ProQuad (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella virus vaccine live lyophilized preparation for subcutaneous injection). 2011.
 Top of Page

MMR Vaccine Effectiveness and Duration of Protection

Vaccine Effectiveness

One dose

  • 1 dose of MMR vaccine is—
    • 93% effective for measles (range: 39%–100%)
    • 78% effective for mumps (range: 49%−92%)
    • 97% effective for rubella (range: 94%–100%)

Two doses

  • 2 doses of MMR are—
    • 97% effective for measles (range: 67%–100%)
    • 88% effective for mumps (range: 66%-95%)

Duration of Protection

People who receive MMR vaccination according to the U.S. vaccination schedule are considered protected for life.

  • Both serologic and epidemiologic evidence indicate that vaccine-induced measles immunity appears to be long-term and probably lifelong in most persons.
  • Studies indicate that one dose of vaccine confers long-term, probably lifelong, protection against rubella.
  • Studies indicate that 1 dose of MMR vaccine can provide persistent antibodies to mumps.
 Top of Page

Vaccine Safety

The United States' long-standing vaccine safety program closely and constantly monitors the safety of vaccines. See in-depth information about the safety of each FDA-approved vaccine:


Top