Adolescents and adults born during or since 1966 are recommended to have received 2 doses of rubella-containing vaccine
All adolescents and adults born during or since 1966 should have either:
- documented evidence of 2 doses of rubella-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
See Serological testing for immunity to rubella.
Rubella-containing vaccine is funded through the NIP adolescents and adults aged ≤20 years who have been incompletely vaccinated or do not have evidence of immunity to mumps. For details see the National Immunisation Program Schedule.
This is particularly important to ensure that women of child-bearing age are immune to rubella. See Women of child-bearing age who are seronegative for rubella are recommended to receive rubella-containing vaccine.
All males born during or after 1966 (particularly those born from 1966 up to the 1990s) are recommended to have their vaccination records reviewed to ensure that they have received 2 doses of MMR vaccine. These males are more likely than females to have not received 2 doses of rubella-containing vaccine. See Epidemiology.
Adolescents and adults who have been incompletely vaccinated or do not have evidence of immunity to rubella are recommended to receive rubella-containing vaccine. See Catch-up vaccination for more details, including minimum intervals between doses.
People aged ≥14 years are not recommended to receive MMRV vaccine
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.