How many doses of the measles vaccine do I need?

Children should receive two doses of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, with the first dose given at age 12 to 15 months and a second dose at age 4 to 6 years.

Adults born after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine unless they have other evidence of immunity (see below). Health care personnel, college students and international travelers without other evidence of immunity should receive two appropriately spaced doses of MMR vaccine.

Immunization doses may be different for international travelers. Talk to your health care provider for immunization recommendations.

Persons are considered immune (not susceptible) to measles if any of the following apply:

  • They were born before 1957.
  • They are certain they have had measles.
  • They are up to date on measles vaccines (one dose for children 12 months through 3 years old, two doses for anyone 4 years and older).

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1. What places have been identified as exposure sites?
2. What is measles?
3. What are the symptoms of measles?
4. How contagious is measles?
5. What should I do if I think I have the measles?
6. How serious is measles?
7. How can I prevent measles?
8. How many doses of the measles vaccine do I need?
9. How common is measles?
10. How is measles treated?