What the MMR vaccine is for
The MMR vaccine protects against:
These 3 infections spread easily between people and can lead to serious problems including meningitis, blindness and hearing loss.If you're pregnant, getting measles can cause premature birth, miscarriage or still birth. And getting rubella can cause serious problems for your baby such as damage to their sight and hearing.2 doses of the MMR vaccine gives you long-term protection.Getting vaccinated also helps protect people who cannot be vaccinated, such as unborn babies, newborn babies and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Who should have the MMR vaccine
The MMR vaccine is recommended for all babies and young children, but older children and adults can have it if they were not vaccinated when they were younger.
Babies and young children
Babies and young children are given 2 doses of the MMR vaccine as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.They're given a dose at:
- 1 year old
- 3 years 4 months old
Babies between 6 and 12 months can have an extra dose of the MMR vaccine before this if they need it to protect them if:
- they're travelling abroad to an area with a lot of measles
- they've been close to someone with measles
- there's an outbreak of measles
Older children and adults
The MMR vaccine can be given at any age.Speak to a GP about getting vaccinated if you did not have it as a child, you only had 1 dose or you're not sure if you've been fully vaccinated.It's especially important to make sure you're vaccinated if:
- you're a child, teenager or young adult
- you could become pregnant
- you're travelling to, or living in, a country where there is a higher risk of getting measles, mumps or rubella
- you're a healthcare worker
- you were born between 1970 and 1990 (as you may not have been vaccinated against all 3 infections)
Your GP surgery should be able to tell you which vaccinations you've already had.If you were born before 1970 and have not had measles, mumps or rubella (german measles) or their vaccines, you can ask your GP surgery for the MMR vaccine.
