Measles | Vaccination | CDC [idioma inglés]

Measles | Vaccination | CDC

Measles Vaccination

Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. In the United States, widespread use of measles vaccine has led to a greater than 99% reduction in measles cases compared with the pre-vaccine era. Since 2000, when measles was declared eliminated from the U.S., the annual number of people reported to have measles ranged from a low of 37 people in 2004 to a high of 644 people in 2014. Most of these originated outside the country or were linked to a case that originated outside the coutntry.

Measles is still common in other countries. The virus is highly contagious and can spread rapidly in areas where people are not vaccinated. Worldwide, an estimated 20 million people get measles and 146,000 people die from the disease each year—that equals about 440 deaths every day or about 17 deaths every hour.

Vaccine Recommendations

Children

CDC recommends all children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. Children can receive the second dose earlier as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose.

Students at post-high school educational institutions

Students at post-high school educational institutions who do not have evidence of immunity against measles need two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.

Adults

Adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine.

International travelers

People 6 months of age and older who will be traveling internationally should be protected against measles. Before any international travel—

• Infants 6 through 11 months of age should receive one dose of MMR vaccine. Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses (one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose at least 28 days later).
• Children 12 months of age and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
• Teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.

Healthcare personnel

Healthcare personnel should have documented evidence of immunity against measles, according to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices[48 pages]. Healthcare personnel without evidence of immunity should get two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.

For more information, see measles vaccination recommendations.

For Those Getting Vaccinated

Vaccination recommendations and other useful information about the measles vaccine

• Measles Vaccine Basics
• Beliefs & Concerns
• Vaccine Safety
• Who Should Not be Vaccinated?
• Where to Get MMR Vaccine
  • Parents, work with your child's healthcare provider on doses and timing
  • Adults, see Finding and Paying for Vaccines or use the Healthmap Vaccine Finder

Clinical Information for Healthcare Professionals

Measles references and resources, provider education tools, and materials for patients

• Clinical Information on Measles
• Vaccine Recommendations
• References & Resources
• Provider Education
• Materials for Patients

Vaccination Coverage

Estimates of the number of people living in the U.S. who have been received particular vaccines at the national, state, and local levels using results from the National Immunization Survey.

• Immunization Coverage in the U.S.
• School and Childcare Vaccination Surveys

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Related Pages

• Feature Story: Measles: Make Sure Your Child Is Fully Immunized
• Measles: Unprotected Story
  Parents tell true story of how measles sickened their child and impacted their family.
• Measles — Fact Sheet for Parents
• Eliminating Measles, Rubella, and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) Worldwide
• Traveler’s Health: Measles