Measles Virus Vaccine
About Measles Virus Vaccine
Measles Virus Vaccine is an injectable vaccine used to protect individuals against measles, a highly contagious and potentially serious viral infection. It serves the medical purpose of building active immunity to prevent the virus from causing severe illness. It is widely used to protect children, adolescents, and adults who have not been vaccinated before.
Unlike daily medicines, this vaccine is given as a single injection or a two-dose series based on standard health schedules to ensure long-term protection. To help your body build a strong immune response after receiving the vaccine, focus on eating a balanced diet and staying well-hydrated.
Under standard immunisation calendars, a two-dose primary series is recommended for long-term protection (typically given at 9–12 months and 16–24 months of age in India). Catch-up doses are also provided for older children, adolescents, and adults who missed childhood immunisation. Because this is an injectable vaccine, it can be administered without regard to food or meals.
Most people only experience mild side effects, such as mild fever or temporary soreness and redness at the injection site. However, you should consult a doctor immediately if you experience severe symptoms, such as an extremely high fever, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face.
You should talk to your doctor before receiving this vaccine if you have an active illness, tuberculosis, or a condition that affects your immune system. Specifically, individuals with severely weakened immune systems or those who are pregnant should not receive this vaccine.
This vaccine can interact with medicines that suppress the immune system, such as chemotherapy or oral steroids, reducing its overall effectiveness. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy, consult your doctor or pharmacist to determine the safest timing for your vaccination.
Uses of Measles Virus Vaccine
Medicinal Benefits
Measles Virus Vaccine provides important health benefits by helping prevent measles infection and its potentially serious complications. The key benefits of Measles Virus Vaccine are as follows:
- Long-Lasting Protection: It offers highly effective, durable protection against the virus, significantly reducing the risk of severe complications like pneumonia, brain inflammation (encephalitis), and middle ear infections.
- Community Protection (Herd Immunity): By helping maintain high community vaccination coverage (the ~95% threshold required for herd immunity), it prevents community transmission and protects vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated, such as young infants and severely immunocompromised patients.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Measles Virus Vaccine is administered by the doctor or healthcare professional.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Measles Virus Vaccine
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Redness, pain, or swelling where the shot was given
- Low fever
- Mild skin rash, usually appearing a week or two after the injection
- Feeling tired or irritable
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away):
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or a rapid heartbeat
- High fever (above 103°F/39.4°C) or seizures
- Severe dizziness, confusion, or extreme lightheadedness
- Unusual bleeding or unexpected bruising
Drug Warnings
- Clinical Safety Inspection: Your healthcare provider will inspect the vial before administration to ensure the liquid is free of floating particles or discolouration.
- Sterile Administration: Your healthcare provider will use a fresh, sterile single-use needle and syringe for your injection to guarantee safety.
- Separate Injection Sites: If you are receiving more than one vaccine at the same time, make sure they are given in different areas of the body.
- Stay for Observation: Stay in the waiting room for at least 15 minutes after getting the shot so medical staff can help you quickly if you have an allergic reaction.
- Inform Your Doctor: Tell your doctor if you have received a blood transfusion or any antibody therapies in the past year, as these can block the vaccine from working.
Drug Interactions
- Immune-Suppressing Medicines: Medicines that weaken the immune system, such as chemotherapy drugs or oral steroids, may reduce the effectiveness of Measles Virus Vaccine.
- Blood Products and Immune Globulins: Recent receipt of blood transfusions or antibody injections (immune globulins given for temporary immunity) can neutralise the live vaccine virus, requiring a waiting period before vaccination.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
not applicable-
Pregnancy
not applicable-
Breast Feeding
not applicable-
Driving
not applicable-
Liver
consult your doctorConsult your doctor if you have any concerns about using Measles Virus Vaccine in children with liver diseases. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Measles Virus Vaccine.
Kidney
consult your doctorConsult your doctor if you have any concerns about using Measles Virus Vaccine in children with kidney diseases before taking Measles Virus Vaccine. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Measles Virus Vaccine, as it is not used for severe renal impairment.
Children
safeMeasles Virus Vaccine should be used in children at the age of 9 months.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay Well-Hydrated & Rested: Drink plenty of water before and after your appointment, and ensure adequate sleep to help your body manage post-vaccination fatigue or low-grade fever.
- Maintain Good Nutrition: Eat balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins to support robust antibody production.
- Ease Local Discomfort: Gently move the injected arm throughout the day and apply a cool, damp cloth if you experience mild soreness or swelling at the injection site.
Special Advise
Children with known or suspected HIV infection are at increased risk of severe measles and should be offered Measles Virus Vaccine as early as possible.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Measles: Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that causes a rash, fever, cough, and other symptoms. It spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The symptoms include high fever, runny nose, bloodshot eyes, tiny white spots in the mouth, a rash that starts on the face and upper neck and spreads down the body, sore throat, muscle pain, and sensitivity to light. The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated.
FAQs
Measles Virus Vaccine is used to prevent measles disease.
Measles Virus Vaccine is a vaccine or immunizing agent that contains the Measles virus vaccine (live attenuated), which is used to provide active immunization against Measles. It works by stimulating active immunity to measles by inducing the production of Measles-specific IgG antibodies.
Measles Virus Vaccine may cause side effects in some individuals, such as mild pain and tenderness at the injection site, mild fever, rash, rhinitis, cough, diarrhea, and pyrexia. These side effects are temporary and resolve without treatment. However, inform your doctor immediately if they persist or worsen.
Measles Virus Vaccine is recommended to be administered to children at 9 months of age to protect them from measles in early life.
2 doses of vaccine should be taken to treat measles. The first dose of measles should be given at 9 months, and the second dose should be administered at 12-15 months to have long-term protection.
Yes, you can usually receive Measles Virus Vaccine if you only have a mild cold or a low fever. However, if your illness is moderate or severe, it is best to wait until you feel better. Talk to your doctor.
No, this vaccine is generally not recommended during pregnancy because it contains a live, weakened virus. It is best to get vaccinated before planning a pregnancy. Talk to your doctor.
For the vast majority of people, the protection provided by Measles Virus Vaccine is lifelong once the full series is completed. If you are unsure of your vaccination status, talk to your doctor.
Yes, adults who lack documented proof of vaccination or evidence of prior immunity should receive the vaccine, especially international travellers, healthcare workers, and students. If you are unsure of your status, your doctor can order a simple blood test (measles antibody titre test) to check if you are already immune before administering the shot.
Yes, some people may develop a mild, non-contagious rash a week or two after the injection. This is a normal sign that the body is building immunity. Talk to your doctor.
Yes, it is safe to receive Measles Virus Vaccine if you are breastfeeding, as it does not pose a risk to your baby. Talk to your doctor.
Yes, Measles Virus Vaccine can be given alongside other routine vaccines, provided they are injected in different spots on your body. Talk to your doctor.
Applying a cool, damp cloth to the injection site and gently moving your arm can help relieve temporary soreness. If the pain worsens or lasts more than a few days, talk to your doctor.
