Adolescents and adults born during or since 1966 are recommended to have received 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine
All adolescents and adults born during or since 1966 should have either:
- documented evidence of 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine given at least 4 weeks apart and with both doses given at ≥12 months of age, or
- serological evidence of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella
Adolescents and adults who have been incompletely vaccinated or do not have evidence of immunity to measles are recommended to receive measles-containing vaccine. See Catch-up vaccination for more details, including minimum intervals between doses.
People born before 1966 do not need to receive measles-containing vaccine (unless serological evidence indicates that they are not immune). This is because circulating measles virus and disease were prevalent before 1966, so most people would have acquired immunity from natural infection.
However, confirmed cases of measles have occurred in people born before 1966.3 If in doubt about a person’s immunity, it may be faster and easier to vaccinate the person than conduct serological testing. See Serological testing for immunity to measles.
Review vaccination records for all adolescents and young adults to ensure that they have received 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine. See Epidemiology.
People aged ≥14 years are not recommended to receive MMRV vaccine MMRV vaccine is not recommended for use in people ≥14 years of age. No data are available on safety, immunogenicity or efficacy in this age group.
If a person ≥14 years of age is inadvertently given a dose of MMRV vaccine, this dose does not need to be repeated.