Who Should and Should Not Receive the Vaccine

Who should receive the MMR vaccine?

• All infants 12 months of age or older

• Susceptible adults

Because of the risk of CRS, it is particularly important that post-pubertal women be immune to rubella. Routine screening of pregnant women for rubella immunity is recommended and susceptible individuals should be vaccinated when it is known that they are not pregnant. Vaccination in case of susceptible pregnant women is often given immediately after giving birth.

People susceptible to rubella working in educational institutions and childcare centers should be immunized to prevent transmission of rubella virus to pregnant women, as well as for their own protection.

Frequently, it is believed that members of the following groups should not receive the vaccine. In fact, susceptible members may still receive the vaccine: - Women who are breast feeding - Individuals who have HIV infection but no symptoms of AIDS - Susceptible children whose mothers or other household members are pregnant, as immunizing these contacts presents no risk to the pregnant individual

Who should not receive the MMR vaccine?

• People with serious allergies to gelatin or any of the other components of the vaccine

• Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive. Moreover, women should not become pregnant within 28 days after immunization with MMR.

• Immunocompromised persons (with the exception of HIV-infected persons who have no symptoms of AIDS, as noted above) and persons receiving cancer chemotherapy or high doses of steroids

• People receiving blood products (except washed red blood cells) such as immune globulin should have the MMR vaccine deferred for 3 to 11 months depending on the blood product and dosage administered.