When is a child vaccinated against measles? Measles vaccination: schedule, vaccine, reaction, complications. Is immunization mandatory and necessary?

The most reliable protection against many infections is vaccination. One such disease that is vaccinated against is measles. This is a dangerous disease that, even with proper treatment, can cause serious complications. Measles, despite all measures to prevent it, remains quite common in many countries - and not only in socially disadvantaged countries, but also in rich ones, such as Germany and France. According to WHO statistics, this disease takes the lives of several thousand children every year. Mortality from measles is recorded only among unvaccinated children, whose body has absolutely no protection against the causative agent of the disease, which as a result develops very quickly, causing severe damage to systems and organs. After vaccination, the likelihood that a person will get measles is reduced by 90%, and even if this does happen, the disease is tolerated quite easily, does not cause complications and does not lead to death. Today, measles vaccinations are included in the vaccination calendars of all countries, and doctors strongly recommend not to refuse their administration. Vaccination is carried out in childhood and, if necessary, in adults. Most often, children are vaccinated with measles in combination with rubella. Since vaccination against this disease often coincides with the Mantoux test, the latter is usually carried out 2 weeks before vaccination or 6 weeks after it. At the same time, the Mantoux test and measles vaccination are given only if there are emergency indications for this, such as suspicion of acute development of tuberculosis immediately after vaccination.

How can measles infection occur?

The measles virus is unstable in the environment, and therefore infection occurs only through direct contact with a person who is sick. In the circle of people communicating with the patient, everyone most often becomes infected. Since symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately after infection (the incubation period lasts from 7 to 14 days), the carrier may be a person who seems healthy. In children's groups, the virus is transmitted especially quickly, since children often violate hygiene rules and are also in very close contact during games for a long time. Measles spreads through airborne droplets and contact. It is worth noting this point: due to transmission with microscopic drops of saliva that are released during breathing, the virus can spread through ventilation shafts; because of this, for example, infection can occur among residents of the 5th floor from a patient on the 1st floor without direct contact with him. For this reason, mini-epidemics periodically develop, affecting even people who are not in the areas where the disease is occurring. Adults, if they have an active (done no more than 10 years ago or given in childhood) vaccination, can resist the virus quite actively, and therefore they become infected only during a severe epidemic. It is for this reason that the disease is considered to be a childhood disease.

Measles vaccination schedule

Measles vaccination can be carried out routinely or urgently, depending on the epidemiological situation in the area.

During routine vaccination, children are vaccinated in two stages. The first vaccination is given at the age of 1 year or one and a half years. If it is well tolerated and no contraindications to it arise over time, then revaccination is carried out in children of senior preschool age at 6–6.5 years. Since measles vaccination is almost always very easy, in the vast majority of cases measles is included in a complex vaccine, which also includes rubella and mumps.

According to the rules, vaccination is done in childhood and is not repeated afterward unless there are special conditions for this. In this case, vaccination is carried out according to indications for persons under 40 years of age. After this age, people are not vaccinated against measles. Special cases when vaccination is not carried out according to the approved schedule include the following:

a child born from a mother who completely lacks antibodies against measles - in such a situation, the child receives an additional vaccination at the age of 8 months. Further vaccination is carried out at one and a half years and at 6 years;
a very difficult epidemiological situation: when a measles epidemic is recorded, vaccination is carried out in children aged 6 months and in adults who have not received a childhood vaccination in a timely manner, or there are no documents confirming it;
contact with a person with measles: vaccination is carried out for all persons under the age of 40, unless there is information that they received a childhood vaccination or an adult vaccination no earlier than 10 years before contact with an infected person.

In addition, unscheduled measles vaccination can also be carried out for tourists who travel to countries with extremely unfavorable measles conditions. In this case, the vaccination can be given even if there is childhood vaccination or adult vaccination, after which 10 years have not yet passed. Usually the reason for such vaccination is being in a hot climate. This is required for the reason that during a sudden climate change, the body is attacked by many new viruses, and the activity of the immune system quickly decreases. As a result of this, measles, even if a person was vaccinated against it, but earlier than one year ago, can infect a person.

How is vaccination carried out in adults?

In adults, unlike children, vaccination is carried out at intervals of only 3 months. The first vaccination is given after examination by a doctor, who confirms the absence of contraindications. After this, if it is well tolerated, repeated vaccination is carried out exactly 3 months later. In the event that a second vaccination was not given, 6 months after the first, the next vaccination is carried out again and also in 2 stages. The composition is injected into the upper area of the forearm subcutaneously or intramuscularly - at the discretion of the physician. It is extremely undesirable to vaccinate into the gluteal muscle, since with age, a large amount of subcutaneous fat accumulates there (even with normal weight and a slender figure), which is why abscesses very easily arise, which require opening and separate therapy. Also, you cannot put the vaccine into the skin, since the composition in this case does not fully disperse, and a compaction is formed, which sometimes lasts up to 1 year.

Where are children vaccinated and is it mandatory?
The dose of the vaccine is 0.5 ml, and therefore the child does not experience severe discomfort when it is administered. The composition is most often injected into the forearm area or under the shoulder blade. They try to exclude gluteal administration due to the fact that during the period of the first vaccination, children, as a rule, still need diapers, and therefore, due to the compression effect, inflammation at the injection site may develop.
According to Russian legislation, all medical actions with a person are possible only with his consent or with the consent of his guardians. For this reason, a child can be vaccinated against measles only if his parents or persons performing their duties have given their permission. If an adult refuses to vaccinate a child, he reports this in writing, and this paper is pasted into the card. Considering how dangerous measles is and how many child deaths are recorded annually around the world due to lack of vaccination against it, it is highly undesirable to refuse vaccination.

What might be the body's reaction to a vaccine?

After the vaccination has been given, the body begins to produce antibodies against measles, and during this period both children and adults may experience some discomfort. Therefore, within 1-2 days after vaccination, the following often occurs:

increase in body temperature to 37.5–38 degrees;
slight or moderate weakness;
body aches;
runny nose;
redness of varying intensity at the injection site.

Typically, such manifestations of the body’s reaction to the vaccine last 2-3 days and go away on their own. If this does not happen, and the body temperature rises to more than 38 degrees, then you need to see a doctor.

Complications after vaccination in children

In some cases, measles vaccination may cause some complications. Most often, they are due to the fact that the vaccination was carried out incorrectly, that is, it was given to a child who had contraindications to this at the time the vaccine was administered. Also, sometimes complications can arise due to poor-quality vaccination, when there is no sufficient antiseptic treatment at the skin puncture site, and pathogenic bacteria enter the body through a tiny wound. The most common complications associated with measles vaccination are:

severe intoxication - in this case, from the 7th to the 14th day after vaccination, the child develops severe intoxication of the body, which is accompanied by a significant increase in body temperature, sore throat, headache and a rash similar to that which occurs with measles. This condition lasts no more than 5 days. In cases where the heat is too strong (39 degrees or more), convulsions with loss of consciousness may develop;
encephalitis - the disease is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain. This complication is rare. A child in this condition requires urgent medical attention, without which the risk of death is very high;
acute allergic reaction - it occurs several hours after the vaccine is administered and can manifest itself as a simple rash or angioedema;
exacerbation of chronic lung diseases;
abscess at the injection site - in this case, due to the penetration of bacteria at the injection site, a purulent-necrotic process develops, which, if left untreated, can spread to surrounding tissues and lead to severe damage to the body.

Although complications from the measles vaccine in children are quite serious, they are rare. If a child who has not been vaccinated gets sick, the risk of severe consequences for the body will be much higher.

Complications of vaccination in adults

Usually, after vaccination, adults do not experience any side effects or complications, but only if it was administered correctly, at a time when the vaccinee’s body is not weakened. If, during vaccination, the immune system was in a depressed state, then an allergic reaction (of varying intensity) to the vaccine and cold symptoms with skin rashes may occur. In some rather rare cases, when vaccination was carried out during a viral infection or immediately after it, severe and life-threatening complications may develop, such as:

pneumonia;
meningitis;
encephalitis;
myocarditis.

All of them require immediate treatment and, in the vast majority of cases, in a hospital setting.

Contraindications for vaccination

There are no contraindications for measles vaccination in children, and for this reason bans on the use of the vaccine for all ages together can be considered. The only contraindications that can be identified for adults are pregnancy and breastfeeding. General contraindications are:

immunodeficiency states;
malignant neoplasms;
viral infections;
treatment using immunoglobulin;
allergic reaction to chicken and quail egg whites;
allergy to aminoglycosides;
phenomena of poor tolerance after receiving a previous measles vaccination;
severe complications after measles vaccination;
intolerance to antibiotics.

In all these cases, vaccination is not carried out and, at the discretion of the doctor, is either postponed for a certain period or completely canceled. It is strictly prohibited to remain silent about the presence of contraindications, as this can cause extremely serious harm to health and even cause death after the vaccine is administered.

Which vaccine to choose

Measles vaccination is given using both Russian and imported vaccines. Both compositions are well tolerated by the body, and therefore there is no particular difference in which of them will be used for vaccination. Typically, vaccination is carried out with the drug that is currently available in the medical institution, and for this reason it is possible to use different vaccines for the first and second vaccination.

Vaccination against measles is the best preventive measure that can protect against a serious infectious disease.

Many unvaccinated adults also suffer from childhood illness. You can become infected through airborne droplets through contact with a carrier of the disease or someone who is sick. Sometimes a person may not yet know that they have measles because the incubation period takes about 2 weeks.

The onset of the disease can easily be confused with ARVI or influenza. Catarrhal phenomena occur, the temperature rises high, and conjunctivitis may begin. Then there is swelling of the face, spots on the mucous membrane in the mouth, and by the third day a rash usually appears.

The appearance of spots in the mouth is a hallmark of measles (Filatov-Koplik spots on the inside of the cheeks and enanthema on the pharyngeal mucosa). Skin rash is characterized by sequential appearance and disappearance in different parts of the body. First, the rashes are localized on the head, face, neck, then descend to the torso. Within 3 days they disappear in the same sequence as they appeared.

Treatment is symptomatic. Antiviral therapy has not been developed.

The danger of measles for adults

In adulthood, measles is very severe. The disease sharply reduces the patient's immunity, causing complications in the form of pneumonia, hepatitis, sinusitis, otitis, bronchitis, pyelonephritis, meningitis and meningoencephalitis, keratitis, eustachitis.

All complications can lead to unpredictable consequences, but the most dangerous are meningoencephalitis, which affects the nervous system, and encephalitis, which is fatal in a quarter of all cases of its occurrence.

Vaccination is the only way to protect yourself from measles and not become infected with it either in childhood or in adulthood.

When and where to get vaccinated against measles

Adults are vaccinated against measles according to the schedule approved in a particular country. Up to the age of 35, every person is entitled to free vaccination, provided that he has not been sick and has never been vaccinated against measles. Also, regardless of age, free measles vaccination is available to those who have had contact with infected people, but have not previously been sick and have not been vaccinated.

If a person received only 1 vaccination as a child, he is vaccinated in the same way as an adult who has never been vaccinated against this disease - twice with a three-month interval between administrations. The immunity obtained in this way is resistant to the virus for 12 years.

The measles vaccine is administered to adults under the skin or intramuscularly in the upper third of the shoulder. Due to the abundant fat layer, vaccination is not given in the buttock, as well as in any other areas of the body prone to the formation of compactions.

If you want to travel around the world, doctors recommend that you learn about the epidemiological situation in a particular country. Over the past 5 years, the measles epidemic has alternately flared up in Germany, Turkey, Singapore, Thailand, and Italy. Before visiting other countries, you can urgently get vaccinated at least a month before the expected departure date.

Measles vaccination rules

If vaccination is carried out according to all the rules, then the first vaccination should be given to a child aged one to one and a half years, but in countries with an increased threshold for morbidity, children can begin to be vaccinated from 6 months.

The second dose of vaccination is administered to consolidate the result of the first, to develop additional immunity when it is not sufficiently formed and in the case when the first vaccination was missed for some reason.

The timing of measles vaccinations coincides with the same timing for rubella and mumps. That is why sometimes these vaccinations are carried out comprehensively, protecting children with one injection from three serious infections at once.

Effect of the vaccine

The measles vaccine creates immunity against this disease for 20 years. However, at the age of six, the need for revaccination arises, since some children turned out to be insensitive to the virus introduced at the age of one, some have weakened immunity against measles, therefore, for more reliable protection, children are vaccinated twice.

During the third vaccination, which usually occurs in adolescence at the age of 15-17, people most often receive a multicomponent vaccination, since on the eve of childbearing age, girls and boys need protection against rubella and mumps, and the anti-measles component simply enhances the already formed protection.

Types of measles vaccines

In Russia today several types of measles vaccines are used. All of them are divided into mono-vaccines, aimed at combating only measles, and combi-vaccines, which help protect the body from other severe viruses at the same time.

Mono-vaccines registered and used in Russia include:

Russian dry measles vaccine.
French vaccine Ruvax (Aventis Pasteur).

Among combivaccines (multicomponent) there are:

Russian mumps-measles vaccine.
Three-component American vaccine MMP II.
Three-component Belgian vaccine Priorix.

Multicomponent vaccines that simultaneously protect against measles, mumps and rubella can only be purchased independently at vaccination centers or pharmacies. Russian anti-measles mono-vaccines are available in regular clinics.

It is important to remember that single-component vaccines are administered exclusively to the shoulder or shoulder blade area, while imported multicomponent drugs can also be administered intramuscularly, according to the instructions.

Anyone can choose their own vaccines for themselves or their child. However, most often, to administer multicomponent vaccines that are not prescribed for administration by the Ministry of Health, you will have to purchase them yourself.

Single vaccines (measles component only)

LCV (live measles vaccine)

The domestically produced live measles monovaccine is an effective means of protection against measles already on the 28th day after injection. Over the next 18 years, a person can be confident about his immunity against this infection.

Among the main contraindications for such a monovaccine, doctors name exacerbation of chronic diseases, acute viral and bacterial infections, cancer, HIV, and allergic reactions to the components of the injection drug. Also, LCV should not be used together with immunoglobulin and serums.

Ruvax (Aventis Pasteur, France)

The French-made monovaccine Ruvax helps prevent measles infection 2 weeks after vaccination. The effect of vaccination lasts for 20 years. Doctors recommend Ruvax when vaccinating infants, in high epidemiological conditions, or in other cases of vaccination under the age of 1 year. Contraindications for the Ruvax vaccination are the same as for GIB, plus Ruvax cannot be used by those undergoing radiation, corticosteroid therapy, or using cytostatics.

Combination vaccines

MMR II (measles, rubella, mumps)

The American vaccine against three serious infections, MMP-II, has proven itself very well in modern immunological practice. It can be administered simultaneously with DPT, DPT, polio or chickenpox vaccinations, provided that each injection is given to a different area of the body.

Among the main contraindications for MMP-II injection, doctors identify pregnancy, HIV, exacerbation of various chronic diseases, allergy to neomycin, etc.

Priorix (measles, rubella, mumps)

The second popular triple threat vaccine is Priorix, produced by the same pharmaceutical company that makes the famous DTP, Infanrix. The degree of purification of this company's vaccines is very high, due to which the reaction to vaccination is less pronounced.

Contraindications for the administration of Priorix are exactly the same as for MMP-II, plus this vaccine cannot be administered for neomycin contact dermatitis and acute phases of stomach diseases.

Mumps-measles vaccine (Russia)

The two-component Russian mumps-measles vaccine is administered to people, according to the state-approved vaccination schedule, at 1 and 6 years of age, and then during revaccinations of adults.

Doctors include the following main contraindications for the use of such a two-component vaccine:

periods of pregnancy and lactation;
anaphylactic shock, allergies;
oncology;
severe reactions and complications from previous use of this vaccine;
various diseases in the acute stage.

Measles-rubella vaccine

The Russian two-component measles and rubella vaccine is completely similar to the mumps-measles vaccine. It is important to remember that when using two-component vaccines, it is also necessary to purchase a single vaccine with the missing component of protection for full immunity against common viral infections.

General rules for parents

On the eve of any proposed vaccination, the child must be protected from third-party contacts in order to avoid contracting any infections. In addition, it is not advisable to overcool the child, expose him to sunlight, overheat or acclimatize him before vaccinations. The immune system reacts very sharply to any stress, which is all of the above impacts, and vaccination is also a stress factor for the immune system. When stress reactions are combined, antibody formation may malfunction and the development of the desired immunity may be disrupted.

Vaccination of children according to the vaccination calendar

In order to avoid all sorts of complications, pathology of the nervous system, as well as other severe consequences of measles, all children must be vaccinated against measles, according to the vaccination calendar in force in the area. At the moment, the minimum age of a child for measles vaccination is 9 months, since until this moment the baby must be protected by maternal antibodies. And the newborn’s immunity is weak enough to survive vaccination and form the necessary antibodies. Even at the age of 9 months, with the introduction of the measles vaccine, immunity occurs in only 90% of children. When such a vaccine is administered at 12 months, immunity is formed in almost all vaccinated people.

Thus, the optimal period for initial vaccination is considered to be human age 1 year. But in regions with a severe epidemiological situation, it is recommended to start vaccinating children earlier, which is where the 9-month figure came from. In this case, re-vaccination begins at 15-18 months.

In countries with a calm epidemiological picture, it is customary to vaccinate children for the first time at 1 year of age, and subsequently revaccinate at 6. This vaccination tactic has eradicated measles outbreaks in many regions.

Vaccination of adults

Adults are subject to measles vaccination with the planned introduction of a multicomponent measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, in case of emergency, before traveling to countries where the epidemic situation is unstable, or in contact with sick people, if the vaccine has not been previously given. In this situation, it is possible to get vaccinated within three days after dangerous contact. But before traveling to another country, vaccination must be done in advance - at least 1 month before departure.

Measles vaccination and pregnancy

During pregnancy, measles infection is very dangerous; it can lead to miscarriage and all kinds of fetal defects. Because the measles vaccine contains live viruses, it is contraindicated during pregnancy. A woman needs to take care of her own safety before planning a pregnancy and undergo the necessary vaccinations.

Allergy to measles vaccine

Most modern vaccines are prepared in . If an allergy to egg white occurs at different periods of a child’s life, expressed in the form of angioedema, urticaria, anaphylactic shock, the child should not be given the measles vaccine.

To find out whether there is a risk of such an allergic reaction, you must:

soak a clean finger in raw egg white;
Apply this finger to the inner surface of the baby’s lip;
If the lip is slightly swollen over the next 5 minutes, it is worth concluding that vaccination with standard vaccines is impossible.

If the possibility of an allergy is identified, it is necessary for the doctor to select a replacement for the standard vaccine and vaccinate with another means.

Contraindications for vaccination

Among the contraindications for vaccination in adults are acute respiratory viral infections or chronic diseases that have worsened at the time of the proposed vaccination. With these symptoms, doctors postpone vaccination for an average of a month.

Adults also have absolute contraindications for vaccination, among which doctors cite allergies to bird eggs, allergic reactions to antibiotics, previous vaccinations, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In children, contraindications for injections against viral infections are:

any disease in the acute stage;
primary immunodeficiency;
AIDS;
use of blood products and immunoglobulin the day before;
complications associated with previous vaccination;
aminoglycoside intolerance;
oncology.

Possible reactions to vaccination

In its normal course, the measles vaccine causes in adults:

slight redness of the injection site;
temperature up to 37.5 degrees;
catarrhal phenomena;
joint pain.

But it is also possible that very dangerous adverse reactions may occur - allergic shock, urticaria, Quincke's edema. Also, in particularly rare and severe cases, adults may develop encephalitis, pneumonia, meningitis, and myocarditis. To avoid such consequences, vaccination should be carried out while being completely healthy, and on the eve of the event, you need to consult an immunologist and use antihistamines.

Reaction to vaccination in children

Among the common childhood reactions to measles vaccination, doctors call:

swelling and redness of the injection site;
some catarrhal phenomena;
the appearance of a skin rash;
poor appetite;
fever during the first 6 days after vaccination.

In this case, all of the above symptoms can manifest themselves to varying degrees. The temperature may rise slightly, or may reach 39-40 degrees, other symptoms may or may not be present, but they should all gradually disappear 16 days after vaccination.

Adverse reactions after vaccination

Complications expressed by various symptoms and side effects from measles vaccines are not common. Sometimes the temperature may increase as a side effect, and sometimes conjunctivitis or rashes may occur. All symptoms are typical for the period 5-18 days after administration of the drug. This course of the post-vaccination period is considered natural.

Doctors include complications from vaccination:

all kinds of allergic reactions that can be prevented by taking antihistamines before and after vaccination;
febrile convulsions in children due to very high fever, which can also be anticipated by taking paracetamol when the temperature begins to rise;
In one case in a million, severe damage to the nervous system occurs.

It is important to understand that all complications that develop as a result of vaccination are much weaker than those that can arise from real measles.

Is it possible to get sick after vaccination?

Basically, although the vaccine contains live viruses, they are so weakened that they are not capable of causing a full-blown disease. Often, vaccination can cause some kind of measles in a very weak form; such reactions occur easily and go away on their own, a maximum of 18 days after the injection. A person in this state is not contagious to others.

However, sometimes a vaccine does not cause the formation of immunity against the disease, and a person can become fully ill with measles while being vaccinated. This phenomenon in medicine is called failure of vaccination immunity and can be observed in a small percentage of all people.

Which vaccine is better

Despite the completely different composition of domestic and imported vaccines, they all demonstrate high effectiveness in combating measles. There are 2 significant differences between these vaccinations. Firstly, domestic vaccines are prepared on the basis, and foreign analogues are made on the basis of chicken eggs. If you are allergic to any of these components, you should choose a different vaccine.

Secondly, imported vaccines have a multicomponent composition and protect against three infectious diseases at once - measles, mumps and rubella, which is very convenient in terms of vaccination. When choosing domestic vaccines, vaccinations will need to be done 2-3 times in each period of life. But at a local clinic you can only get a domestic vaccine for free, so you need to approach vaccination consciously, weighing the pros and cons.

How many measles vaccinations are needed?

The number of measles vaccinations over a lifetime is determined by the age at which a person first received the vaccine. When vaccination begins at 9 months, a person will be forced to undergo 4-5 injections of the vaccine in life: at 9 months, at 15 months, at 6 years, at 16 years and at 30. With the initial vaccination at one year, the number of subsequent injections is reduced by 1.

If there is no vaccination at the age of one, you should try to get the first vaccination as early as possible - at 2-4 years, and the next one should be done according to plan at the age of six on the eve of school. During the primary vaccination of a person over 6 years of age, he is administered a double dose of the drug with an interval of 1-6 months.

How long does immunization against measles last?

The minimum duration of post-vaccination immunity against measles is 12 years. If a person has been vaccinated correctly twice, then his protection can last up to 25 years, but this is difficult to verify.

The main goal of immunization is to protect preschool children, in whom measles is especially severe. In adulthood, subsequent vaccinations can be done every 10-15 years.

Sometimes even vaccinated people get measles. However, in this case, the risk of complications is negligible and the disease progresses easily and quickly.

Measles is the deadliest infection of all childhood diseases. It spreads very quickly and easily, so it is important to take timely measures to protect children. Today, the most effective method of preventing measles is considered to be the complex “rubella, measles, mumps” vaccination.
Vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR, MMR) is carried out according to its own schedule in many countries, but everywhere it is believed that two doses of the drug are necessary for full protection. The first dose of measles vaccine is administered every 12 to 15 months. The second dose may be given after 4 weeks, but is usually given before kindergarten starts between 4 and 6 years of age.

Statistics on measles incidence, complications and mortality

Before reading this section, we advise you to read about the disease itself, its symptoms, mechanism of development and complications - this will help you navigate further information more easily.
Measles is an infectious viral disease that occurs most often in late winter and spring. It begins with a fever that lasts for several days, followed by a cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis. The rash begins on the face and upper neck, spreads down the back and torso, and then spreads to the arms and hands, legs and feet. After 5 days, the rash disappears in the same order in which it appeared.
Measles is extremely contagious. The measles virus lives in the mucus in the nose and throat of people with weakened immune systems. When patients sneeze or cough, droplets of spray fly into the air, remaining active for 2 hours. Measles itself is a nasty disease, but the complications of the disease are even more dangerous. Between six and 20 percent of people who get measles experience complications such as ear infections, diarrhea, or even pneumonia. One in 1,000 people with measles gets inflammation of the brain, and about one in 1,000 is killed.

Why vaccination is necessary

In the ten years before the measles vaccination program began, an estimated 3–4 million people in the United States alone were infected each year, of whom 400–500 died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and another 1,000 were left permanently disabled by encephalitis caused by the measles virus. . Widespread use of the measles vaccine has reduced measles cases by more than 99%.
However, measles is still widespread in other countries. The virus is highly contagious and can spread quickly in areas where vaccination is not common. In 2006, there were 242,000 measles deaths worldwide, which is about 663 deaths per day or 27 deaths every hour. If vaccinations are stopped, measles epidemics will return to pre-vaccination levels and hundreds of people will die from measles and its complications.

What you need to know about measles vaccinations

Vaccination against measles, rubella, mumps is performed with a live, attenuated, combination vaccine that protects against all these diseases. It was first licensed in combined form in 1971 and has been studied by specialists all this time. Today, modern drugs contain the safest and most effective forms of each component.
The components are made by extracting measles viruses from the throat of an infected person and then adapting them to grow in chicken embryos in the laboratory. As the virus becomes more capable of growing in chicken embryos, it becomes less harmful to the baby's skin and lungs. When the virus enters the baby’s body with the vaccine, it begins to multiply, but to a very small extent, so it is very quickly eliminated from the body. This feature causes the development of immunity; in 95% of children, resistance to measles remains throughout their lives.
A second dose of the vaccine is recommended to protect the 5% of children who did not develop immunity during the first dose of the mumps-rubella vaccine. In children with a good immune response, the effect of the first injection is simply consolidated.

Who gets vaccinated against measles and when?

You have the right to decide for yourself whether to get vaccinated or not. If you want to get it, then check out the measles vaccination schedule adopted throughout the world. There are two options for protecting children 12 months to 12 years of age against measles, mumps, rubella (GMR) and varicella (chickenpox):

Double vaccination: measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and an additional varicella vaccine;
One-time vaccination: measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox - complex (MMRV) vaccine with 4 components.

Children should receive 2 doses of MMR vaccine:

The first dose is 12 - 15 months from birth;
Second dose between 4 and 6 years of age.

Before any international travel, children 6 months to 11 months of age should have at least one dose of measles vaccine.
Children 12 months of age and older should have two doses at least 28 days apart.

Adults do not need measles vaccination if:

blood tests show you are immune to measles,
mumps and rubella;
you were born before 1957 and do not plan to have children;
you have already been vaccinated against measles and have a positive test;
you have had one vaccination and are not at high risk of contracting measles.

Adults need measles vaccination if:

are you a student;
you work in a hospital or other medical facility with a high risk of infection;
you are traveling internationally, or as a passenger on a cruise ship;
you are a woman of childbearing age.

Why are people born before 1957 exempt from vaccination?

People born before 1957 lived for several years during the measles epidemic that existed before the vaccine was licensed. As a result, these people are likely to have had the disease and are immune. Research shows that 95% to 98% of those born before 1957 are immune to measles, note that we are not talking about rubella measles - these are different diseases .

Is the measles vaccine dangerous: research and speculation

Myths and misinformation about the safety or dangers of vaccines can be confusing for parents who are trying to make informed decisions about protecting their child. Before making a conclusion, study all the information regarding studies, doctors' comments and real facts of complications.
Vaccination is a common event that is often discussed in the press and among people who have children. Lack of special knowledge often leads to incorrect conclusions when parents begin to confuse cause and effect. While some of the illnesses, reactions, and complications attributed to vaccinations may have other causes and coincidentally occur after vaccination, the real facts are often ignored. Thus, it is very important to study real scientific studies that try to identify true adverse reactions to vaccines, filtering them from random ones.
Let's start with the fact that the idea of vaccination initially comes into confrontation with the idea of the harm of these procedures. Vaccines work effectively when most people have been vaccinated and the government has every interest in ensuring there are no outbreaks. It would be strange to impose on citizens something that will not stop the disease, but, on the contrary, will worsen it. In other words, why hold an event that could cause harm? Because vaccines must be safe for use by as many people as possible, they are developed to the highest safety standards. It takes years of legal testing before a measles vaccine is licensed and distributed. After the introduction of the drug, its use is constantly monitored to ensure safety and effectiveness.
However, like any medical procedure, vaccination has some risks. People react differently to vaccines, and there is no way to 100% predict how a given person will react to specific strains of viruses. The only thing that can be done is to study the full information about the benefits and risks of vaccination, then “trying it on yourself” you can make a balanced, competent decision. Any questions or concerns should be discussed with your doctor.

Real facts of complications after vaccination measles rubella mumps

Some parents wonder why their children should receive protection from diseases that do not seem to exist. Myths and misinformation about vaccine safety are endless and can be confusing for parents trying to make informed decisions.

Vaccines, including the measles shot, like any medicine, can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. But the risk of serious harm or death from this vaccine is extremely low. Receiving the MMR vaccine is much safer than complications from measles, mumps and rubella. Statistics show that most people who receive the MMR vaccine do not have any serious problems afterwards.

Small problems

Fever (up to 1 in 6 people);
Mild rash (affects 1 in 20 people);
Swelling of glands in the cheeks or neck (about 1 in 75 people).

Such problems usually arise within 7-12 days after the injection. After the second dose they are even less common.

Moderate problems

chills caused by fever (about 1 in 3000 doses);
temporary joint pain and stiffness, mostly in adolescence and adult women (up to 1 in 4);
a temporary decrease in platelet levels, which may cause bleeding (about 1 in 30,000 doses).

Serious problems (very rare)

serious allergic reactions (less than 1 in a million doses);
Some other serious problems have been reported immediately after the shot:
deafness;
long-term seizures, coma, or loss of consciousness
complete brain damage.

These cases are so rare that it is difficult to say whether they are a consequence of the vaccine. But such a possibility cannot be ruled out.

Statistics of complications when using a 4-component licensed vaccine

Here are the main findings on the safety of measles vaccination in children aged 12-23 months (US studies).

Adverse events occurred most frequently within 42 days after the first dose of MMRV vaccine; children had a fever with a temperature of 38 or higher and a rash. Most of the risk existed in the first 5-12 days after vaccination. The disease usually went away on its own.
Injection site soreness was reported less frequently after the MMRV vaccine than after the triplex vaccine and the chickenpox vaccine, in separate vaccinations per visit.

Frequency of side effects after MMRV vaccination:

pain at the injection site: 1 child out of 5;
fever: 1 child in 5;
rash: 1 child in 20.

The incidence of side effects for MMR and chickenpox vaccine administered at the same time were:

pain at the injection site: 1 child out of 4;
fever: 1 child out of 7;
rash: 1 child in 25.

These studies showed an increased risk of developing fever after the quadruple measles vaccine compared with the measles, mumps, and varicella vaccine as separate vaccines.
The researchers also looked at the potential risk of febrile seizures (caused by fever) after MMRV vaccination. As part of routine vaccine safety monitoring, vaccine safety studies have been conducted for all new drugs.
Children aged 12–23 months were examined, as the first dose of MMRV or MMR and varicella vaccine is recommended during this period. The study assessed the incidence of various complications after MMRV vaccination, including febrile seizures.

The research results showed:

In the first 7 to 10 days after the first vaccine dose, the incidence of febrile seizures was 2 times higher among children who received the MMRV vaccine (8.5 per 10,000 children vaccinated) than among children who received the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine ( MMR) and chickenpox separately per visit (4.2 per 10,000 children vaccinated);
In the first 7 to 10 days after vaccination, febrile seizures occur in every 2,300 children vaccinated with the first dose of MMRV vaccine, compared with children vaccinated with the first dose of MMR and chickenpox vaccine at the same visit.

Here is a list of vaccinations that were given in childhood to generations of citizens of the USSR and Russia born in the post-war period.

The composition of vaccinations and the vaccination schedule have changed over time. To obtain the necessary information, you must indicate the person’s year of birth.

Certificate of mandatory vaccinations

Note: Revaccination against tuberculosis is carried out with a negative skin test (Mantoux test)

The list includes all vaccinations (except for the annual flu shot) required for all children in the country at various periods of their lives, according to the rules of the relevant years.

In some regions, additional vaccinations were given (for example, against tularemia, brucellosis, anthrax, etc.), which are not listed here. New vaccinations could be introduced earlier in certain regions than throughout the country (for example, vaccination against measles has been carried out en masse since 1968, but was included in the vaccination calendar for the entire country only in 1973).

A brief history of changes in the national vaccination schedule

All generations born after the war were vaccinated against tuberculosis, diphtheria and polio. Also, all children born before 1979 were vaccinated against smallpox.

1957 - introduction of vaccination against whooping cough in the first year of life and mass vaccination of children under 5 years of age.
1960-1961 — introduction of vaccinations and mass vaccination of children and adults against polio.
1967 — introduction of tetanus vaccinations for children, including high school students.
1968-1973 — mass vaccination campaigns against measles; since 1973 - routine measles vaccination in the first year of life.
1980 - abolition of smallpox vaccination due to the complete elimination of this disease in the world. Administration of mumps (mumps) vaccination.
1998 - introduction of a double vaccination against rubella, a repeated vaccination against measles and a vaccination against hepatitis B.
Since 2001— vaccination of children and adults against measles (repeatedly), rubella and hepatitis B. By now, all generations born since 1988 should be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
2011 — vaccination against hemophilus influenzae for children at risk.
2014 — vaccination against pneumococcal infection.

Diphtheria and measles: immunization coverage and incidence

In Russia in the second half of the eighties, the level of vaccination of children under 1 year of age was not high - only 50-60% against diphtheria and 76-92% against measles (according to OECD data).

Since 1990, it has been increasing, and by 2000 it reached 96-99%, which corresponds to the level of countries with developed healthcare and even several percentage points higher than in many of them (for example, in the USA since 2000 94-96% children were vaccinated against diphtheria and 90-92% - against measles).

At the same time, the incidence of diphtheria has been low since the seventies, with the exception of the period 1992-1997, when it increased tenfold. At present, diphtheria can be considered practically suppressed.

Incidence of diphtheria and measles in Russia

Per 100 thousand people

XX Vaccination coverage of children under 1 year of age
(percentage)

Data: incidence - Rosstat, vaccination coverage - OECD.

It may be surprising that the peak incidence of diphtheria in the mid-nineties coincided with a period of increased vaccination. But we must keep in mind that the given data on vaccination coverage refer to children under 1 year of age, and mainly adults were sick, i.e. people who were either not vaccinated in childhood or had already lost their immunity, because at that time Over time, revaccination of adults was not provided.

The incidence of measles also remained high for many years after mass vaccination of children began. Individual outbreaks have been observed until recently, mainly among adults and children who have not been vaccinated for various reasons.

We thank our readers for their comments on VKontakte, which helped improve this article.

Measles has been known to man for thousands of years. But this disease is still collecting its harvest of victims - about 160,000 people die from it every year. So far, the most effective preventive measure and the most reliable protection is the measles vaccination.

Measles is an acute viral disease caused by an RNA virus of the Morbillivirus family. It is quite sensitive to environmental conditions - it quickly dies from exposure to high temperature, sunlight, and disinfectants. The measles virus is not viable outside the human body.

The route of transmission of the disease is predominantly airborne. The entry point for the virus to enter is the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Subsequently, it disperses throughout all organs and tissues, accumulating in the lymph nodes and cells of the body.

During the period of measles infection and for several months after recovery, a decrease in immunity occurs. At this time, it is necessary to pay special attention to your health: outbreaks of existing chronic diseases are possible.

Measles is characterized by:

cyclical course of the disease;
fever;
intoxication of the body;
inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and eyes;
characteristic rashes on the body.

The disease occurs in several periods:

Incubation (hidden). Its duration ranges from 8 to 17 days, sometimes it can reach 21 days.
Catarrhal (initial) – lasts 3-4 days. It is characterized by: fever, general weakness, nasal discharge, cough. Photophobia and swelling of the eyelids may occur.
The rash period lasts 3-4 days. The rash appears in order, affecting the face, neck, upper chest, trunk and limbs. The merging of individual rashes gives the face a puffy appearance and changes its appearance. The appearance of the rash is accompanied by a fever and deterioration of the general condition.
The pigmentation period lasts 7-14 days. This period is characterized by stabilization of well-being. The gradual disappearance of pigmentation begins in the same order as it appeared. It ends with a slight peeling, reminiscent of bran.

The course of the disease can have mild, moderate and severe forms. The severity of the immune defense of the sick person’s body is of great importance. Measles has no specific treatment. For mild to moderate illnesses, bed rest and body hygiene are sufficient. Isolation of the patient can be stopped 5 days after the appearance of the rash.

In severe cases or if complications occur, hospitalization is necessary. Treatment of small children under 1 year of age is carried out in a hospital setting, under the constant supervision of a doctor.

Susceptibility to this disease is very high. Lack of vaccination when encountering a virus makes a person vulnerable, and the probability of infection is almost 100%. Adults suffer from measles much more severely than children. Therefore, childhood vaccination at the appropriate time is very important.

Routes of infection

You can only get measles from a sick person, even if he has no visual signs in the form of a rash. In the first few days after its appearance, it also poses a threat of infection. In the future, this danger is minimized.

There are the following ways of contracting measles:

Airborne. The most common route of transmission of the disease. Infection can be caused by coughing, sneezing, or even just talking in close proximity to someone who has the virus. Closed, unventilated spaces, public transport and other restricted areas are the most dangerous places for infection.
Domestic. In direct contact and communication with family members, work colleagues, classmates. The simultaneous use of common household items (dishes, hygiene items) is strictly prohibited.
Vertical. There are rare cases of transmission of the disease to the fetus during pregnancy.

Attention! Not only close contact with a patient is dangerous for a person, but also being in nearby rooms. The virus of this disease is able to travel in air currents at sufficient distances from the source.

Therefore, anyone who gets in his way is at risk of getting sick. People who have not had this disease before and have not been vaccinated against it are in particular danger. The threat to them remains throughout their lives if they have not been vaccinated against measles.

Timing of measles vaccination

Vaccination is the most reliable way to prevent measles. Done at an early age, it protects a person from this disease in subsequent years. A child's body tolerates it much more easily than an adult's body.

The first vaccination is given to a child when he reaches 12-15 months. In most cases, it is combined with others: against mumps and rubella. The second vaccination is given at the age of 6 years. It is needed to strengthen the emerging immunity to this disease.

When a patient appears, all family members under the age of 40 are vaccinated, except for children under 1 year of age.
If the mother does not have antibodies to the virus, the child is vaccinated against measles before 8 months of age. His further vaccination is standard (at 15 months and at 6 years).

Which children should not be vaccinated?

There are cases when vaccination against measles is excluded. These include:

Allergy to neomycin and chicken egg whites.
The presence of congenital or acquired immunodeficiency (except for HIV not in severe form).
Exacerbations of diseases: chronic, infectious and others. The question of vaccination is decided by the doctor - it can be postponed for 1-3 months until cure.
Administration of immunoglobulins and blood products at the time of proposed vaccination. In this case, vaccination should be carried out no earlier than 3 months after taking such drugs.

Before vaccination, the child must be examined by a local pediatrician, and, if necessary, by other specialists.

Review of pharmacy measles vaccines

All types of vaccines contain killed strains of measles viruses. Egg and quail whites are used as a nutrient medium for growth. Currently used:

monovaccines (dry measles, Ruvax);
combined (MMP, Priorix, mumps and measles vaccine).

Combined vaccines have a complex effect. They provide immunity against three diseases simultaneously - measles, rubella and mumps. This allows a single injection to be given for vaccination. But it is more difficult to tolerate and more often causes complications.

The disadvantage of imported vaccines is the presence of chicken protein in their composition, to which acute allergic reactions can occur.

It can be successfully replaced with a domestically produced vaccine, created on the basis of Japanese quail proteins. This component practically does not cause allergies. A disadvantage can be considered that it belongs to mono-vaccines - the need for separate vaccinations against rubella and mumps.

Indications for vaccine administration

In addition to scheduled preventive vaccinations, there are circumstances when unscheduled vaccination is required.

If there is contact between an unvaccinated person and a person with measles, then, regardless of age (starting from 3 months), an urgent vaccination is given to prevent the disease. It gives the body only passive immunization, so in the future all mandatory vaccinations must be carried out in full.

Women planning pregnancy should pay special attention. It is necessary to determine the presence of antibodies to the measles virus in the body. If they are not, then it is recommended to get a second vaccination before pregnancy, this will reduce further risks for the mother and the unborn child.

Contraindications

There are contraindications under which measles vaccination cannot be given:

pregnancy or lactation period;
severe form of AIDS;
the presence of malignant tumors;
blood transfusion (vaccination is postponed for 3 months);
allergy to vaccine components;
severe complications after a previous vaccination.

Contraindications for vaccination are important to know and take into account when carrying out vaccination. The final decision should be made in conjunction with the attending physician.

Vaccination in adults: indications for revaccination

Revaccination is the reintroduction of a weakened strain of the measles virus into the body. It allows you to maintain the immunity already existing after the first vaccination for further fight against infections.

Revaccination of measles for the adult population is done in accordance with the vaccination schedule currently in force in Russia. Persons under 35 years of age who have not had measles vaccinations or do not have information about this are given the vaccine free of charge. Older people can get vaccinated if they wish by purchasing it themselves.

There are urgent options for administering the vaccine. It is carried out if:

a trip abroad is coming; is done as an urgent preventative measure.
if there was contact with a patient with measles; The vaccination is given to everyone who came into contact with him.

The vaccine is administered to adults twice with a 3-month interval between injections. A two-time vaccination gives a person immunity against measles for at least 12 years. There have been cases of preservation of the body's protective properties 25 years after vaccination.

To administer the vaccine, the following is usually used:

the outer part of the shoulder (closer to the upper third);
hip;
the area of the back directly under the shoulder blade.

It is important to take into account the patient's age, as well as the structure of muscle and fat tissue in his body.

For one-year-old children, the vaccine is given in the shoulder, sometimes the hip is used; six-year-old children are vaccinated in the scapula or shoulder. In rare cases (with insufficiently developed muscles and a large amount of fatty tissue), the vaccine is injected into the thigh.

It is very important to determine the right place and follow the mechanism for correctly administering the injection. If these rules are violated, vaccination may be less effective or even useless.

Possible complications

Statistics show that in most cases, medical intervention is not required after measles vaccination. Often the responses are minor and do not cause danger.

The body independently copes with typical reactions to the vaccine, such as:

skin rashes;
slight rise in temperature;
painful sensations in the joints;
cough or runny nose;
discomfort at the injection site.

As a rule, these symptoms disappear on their own after a few days. In other cases, in the presence of increased allergic susceptibility, more serious complications are observed:

Heat. Convulsions may occur if its increase has reached critical values.
Allergy to the composition of the vaccine. It can manifest itself in the form of suffocation, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock. Such manifestations are dangerous and fatal.
A decrease in platelets in the blood.
Diseases of the respiratory tract, usually pneumonia.

Often complications after vaccination are a consequence of other diseases already present in the body. Their manifestation is caused by weakening of the body during the administration of the vaccine.

Attention! Vaccination of persons with increased susceptibility to the measles virus should be carried out under the supervision of a physician.

Measles infection can also occur after vaccination. But it is important to note that the disease in this case is mild and has no complications.

It is already obvious that only properly administered vaccination can protect a person from such a terrible disease as measles. This is guaranteed by compliance with all standards for indications, contraindications and rules for administering the vaccine.