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
- Merck & Co. Inc. M-M-R II (Measles, mumps, and rubella virus vaccine live); 2009.
- Merck & Co. Inc. ProQuad (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella virus vaccine live lyophilized preparation for subcutaneous injection). 2011.
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.
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:
- Page last reviewed: November 22, 2016
- Page last updated: November 22, 2016
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