Measles vaccination: who is protected and for whom vaccination is vital. Vaccination against measles for children: necessity and features of the procedure Vaccination against measles for children, what are they?

– an airborne viral infection, children under 5 years of age are most susceptible to this disease. Older children and adults rarely get measles, but they suffer from it more severely than children.

What is the danger of measles

The infection poses a mortal danger for children due to complications from the nervous and respiratory systems: slowly progressive pathology of the nervous system and even disability. The frequency of such severe complications is 1 case per 1000 cases.

80% of sick children develop complications in the form of tracheitis, or, which can subsequently become chronic.

In older children, frequent complications include optic or auditory neuritis.

The mortality rate from this infection, even with timely and complete treatment, reaches 5-10% in different years. The disease poses the greatest danger to children in the first 5 years of life.

What does vaccination give?

From birth to 6-9 months, a child is to some extent protected from measles by maternal antibodies (if the mother has previously had measles or has been vaccinated against it). But even infants can get sick if the titer of maternal antibodies is low or the virus is highly aggressive.

Importance of measles vaccination:

• Protects against infections that are dangerous for children and the complications it leads to;
• prevents the occurrence of epidemics;
• limits the circulation of the pathogen in the population;
• the vaccine attenuated virus reduces the load on the immune system (compared to fighting the wild virus) during formation.

Vaccines used

The following vaccines can be used for vaccinations:

• monovalent - live dry measles vaccine (Russia) and "Ruvax" - (France);
• polyvalent vaccines (with several components): measles and (Russia); against measles, rubella, mumps (Priorix Belgium, Ervevax UK, MMR II USA);

The effectiveness of all vaccines is the same, any of them can be used, they are all safe. Moreover, they are interchangeable: if one drug was used at first, then another can be introduced: there will be no negative consequences and this will not affect the effectiveness.

If a child has previously had one of the infections, then you can choose a drug without this component, or you can vaccinate with a vaccine containing a component of the previous disease: this will not cause harm, the component will be destroyed by specific antibodies. This will not affect the formation of immunity against other infections.

The live viruses in the vaccine are weakened and are not dangerous for the child or unvaccinated children around him.

Vaccination calendar

According to the calendar, measles immunization is carried out for children of the following age categories:

• at 1 year;
• at 6 years of age;
• from 15 to 17 years of age.

The first injection of the vaccine can be carried out at 9 months. in the event that the mother has never been vaccinated against measles and has not had it (that is, the baby has not received protective antibodies from the mother). Subsequent injections of the vaccine are carried out from 15 to 18 months, at 6 years and from 15 to 17 years.

If a child under 6 years of age has not received measles vaccinations for any reason, then the vaccine is administered at the first opportunity, and the second dose is administered at 6 years of age (but not earlier than six months from the first vaccination); The third vaccination is given at 15-17 years of age.

If a child over 6 years of age has not been vaccinated against measles, then, if possible, the vaccine is administered twice with an interval of 6 months, and according to the calendar - at 15-17 years of age.

The measles vaccine is administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The optimal sites for insertion are the outer surface of the shoulder, subscapularis, or thigh.

The effectiveness of immunization when vaccinated at 9 months. – 85-90%, at one year of age – reaches 96%. Immunity is formed from the 2nd week after vaccination. The second dose of the drug is administered with the goal of providing 100% coverage of children with reliable protection against measles before starting school. The third dose is administered to maintain immunity for a longer period.

Reaction to vaccination

The reactogenicity of the measles vaccine is very low, and there are practically no complications after vaccination. Live, but significantly weakened viruses in the composition of the drug cannot cause full-fledged measles disease. During the day after the injection, there may be a slight increase in temperature, a slight thickening and mild pain at the injection site.

Depending on the individual reaction of the body, the temperature rise can reach high numbers. Fever lasts up to 4 days. Since it does not affect the formation of immunity, the child can be given antipyretics (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol) to avoid the development of febrile seizures.

Sometimes (5%-15%) a post-vaccination reaction may manifest as skin rashes.

Delayed reactions to the vaccine may occur 5-15 days after injection. In this case, the symptoms resemble measles, and many parents consider the reaction to be vaccine-related measles. However, the phenomena soon disappear on their own. More often, a delayed reaction occurs after the first dose of the vaccine.

If measles-like symptoms appeared at a later period (more than 2 weeks after vaccination), then they should be regarded as a measles disease against the background of immature immunity.

Summary for parents

Parents who consider measles to be a minor childhood disease that is best dealt with during childhood should reconsider their opinion. The argument for this is the frequency of severe complications of measles, especially in young children.

Reliable protection against the disease is vaccination, which can be combined with vaccinations against other infections using polyvalent vaccines.

Parents who are afraid of complications after vaccination should know the statistics: encephalitis after vaccination develops with a frequency of 1 case per 100,000 vaccinated people and 1 case per 1000 cases of measles. That is, the risk of a serious complication after vaccination is 100 times less likely than in the case of a child who fully develops measles.

Which doctor should I contact?

Before vaccination, the child must be examined by a pediatrician. He also develops an individual vaccination schedule. If necessary, parents can consult an infectious disease specialist, allergist, or immunologist.

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

As of today, the mortality rate from measles, even with timely and high-quality treatment, ranges from 5 to 10%. In 2001, on the recommendation of the World Health Organization, vaccinations measles were introduced into the national calendars or immunization programs of many countries, as a result of which by 2008 it was possible to reduce the number of deaths from the infection from 750,000 to 197,000, that is, almost 4 times.

In addition to being fatal, measles can present with adverse consequences such as encephalitis, protein-losing enteropathy, sclerosing panencephalopathy, and slowly progressive pathology of the nervous system. The incidence of these serious complications ranges from 1 case in 1000 cases to 1 in 10,000.

Measles vaccination

It is known that the course of measles is aggravated by a lack of vitamin A in the body, caused by poor nutrition of an adult or child. Therefore, if the child’s living conditions are far from ideal, and the quality of nutrition does not meet the standards for the consumption of vitamins and minerals, it is necessary to get vaccinated to prevent infection.

Currently, there are monovalent measles vaccines, which contain only one component, and polyvalent ones. Polyvalent ones contain several components (not only against measles). Today the following polyvalent vaccines with an anti-measles component are produced in the world:
1. Measles, rubella.
2. Measles, rubella, mumps.
3. Measles, rubella, mumps, chicken pox.

The effectiveness of monovalent vaccines against measles and polyvalent ones with a measles component is the same, so the choice of drug is determined by factors of convenience, etc. The World Health Organization allows only effective and safe measles vaccinations to enter the pharmaceutical market, so any vaccine can be used. In addition, all measles vaccines have the property of being interchangeable, that is, one vaccination can be carried out with one drug, and the second with a completely different one, this will not affect the effectiveness in any way and will not cause any negative consequences.

The measles vaccine is produced in the form of a specially dried powder - lyophilisate, which is diluted with a solvent before administration. The drug should be stored cold or frozen, at a temperature of –20 to –70 o C, but the solvent should not be frozen.

When using the vaccine, it should be remembered that after diluting the lyophilisate, the finished product, left for 1 hour at a temperature of 20 o C, will lose exactly half its ability to induce immunity against infection. And when the drug, ready for administration, is left for 1 hour at a temperature of 37 o C, it completely loses its properties and actually becomes unsuitable for use. In addition, the measles vaccine loses its properties when exposed to direct sunlight, so it must be stored in painted vials. After dissolving the vaccine preparation, it should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 6 hours. After this time, all unused vaccine should be discarded.

Measles-rubella-mumps vaccination

In the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination, various subtypes of the measles virus can be used, for example, Edmonston, Enders, Peebles, Schwartz, Edmonston-Zagreb, Moraten and AIC - C, CAM - 70, TD - 97, Leningrad - 16, Shanghai - 191. The differences between all these types of vaccine viruses are insignificant and do not exceed 0.6%. At the same time, the maximum variability is observed in strains SAM - 70, TD - 97, Leningrad - 16, Shanghai - 191. Any type of vaccine type of measles creates excellent immunity against the wild measles virus. To date, no variants of transmission of the vaccine type of measles virus from a vaccinated person to another have been identified.

The complex three-component measles-rubella-mumps vaccine contains sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin and the antibiotic Neomycin as preservatives and stabilizing substances. Thanks to these stabilizer substances, the measles-rubella-mumps vaccine does not contain the mercury compound thiomersal (merthiolate) as a preservative. Thanks to this, the danger of possible side effects from the ingestion of mercury compounds into the body is completely eliminated, which makes the drug completely safe.

However, the absence of a preservative, merthiolate, imposes strict storage conditions for the vaccine. Until dissolved, the lyophilisate is stored cold or frozen, at a temperature not lower than –70 o C. Before administering the vaccine, the powder is diluted; this solution must be placed in a painted bottle, since the drug is not stable under the influence of sunlight. The prepared solution can only be used within 6 hours, provided it is stored in the refrigerator during this period of time. If the solution stands for 1 hour at a temperature of 20 o C, then it will lose half its properties, and the same period of time at 37 o C - the vaccine will become completely spoiled.

The measles-rubella-mumps vaccine is convenient for vaccination because it reduces the number of injections and trips to the clinic. If a child or adult has already had an infection (for example, measles, rubella or mumps), then you can choose a vaccine without a component that the human body has already encountered. But you can also get the measles-rubella-mumps vaccine - then the component that the person has already had will be simply destroyed by the existing immune cells. In this case, the vaccine will not cause harm, but will only help to develop immunity to other infections, the components against which the complex drug contains.

Do you need a measles vaccination?

There is an opinion that it is better to get infections such as measles, rubella or chickenpox in childhood, since they are better tolerated and then provide immunity for life. However, this position is very one-sided and irresponsible. Thus, vaccination ensures a significant reduction in the number of circulating viruses in the population, since vaccinated people do not get sick, and the microbe simply has nowhere to live and reproduce. In this case, with an active immunization policy, it is possible to eliminate the measles virus from the human population - then the next generations can easily do without vaccination, as, for example, happened with smallpox, for which they have not been vaccinated since the 80s of the 20th century. Therefore, immunizing children against measles may help grandchildren who may not need it at all. Otherwise, each generation of children will be forced to suffer from measles and other infections, continuing this vicious circle.

Newborn babies are protected from measles for some time, so they are rarely infected. If the mother had measles or was vaccinated against the infection, then the antibodies in the child’s blood remain for 6–9 months, providing him with immunity from the disease. However, this is not a guarantee, since if the antibody titer is low or the virus is highly active, the child can still get this dangerous infection.

Measles is not at all as harmless as is commonly believed, since in 80% of cases this infection is complicated:

• otitis media;
• laryngitis;
• pneumonia.

Due to all of the above factors, there is an objective opinion that a child still needs a measles vaccination. It will help protect him from the risk of chronic post-measles inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, and will reduce the load on the immune system without forcing it to fight a full-fledged pathogen.

Why measles vaccination is necessary - video

Measles vaccination for adults

Secondly, in a number of regions of Russia, thanks to the efforts made to vaccinate children against measles, it was possible to reduce the number of cases of the disease by 10-15 times. Typically, the vaccine works effectively for 20 years, after which revaccination is necessary. However, when the incidence of measles was higher, the number of circulating viruses was greater, then the immune system of vaccinated people encountered the microorganism, but the person did not become ill with the infection. During such contact of the vaccinated person’s immune system with the wild type of the virus, his defense was activated, and revaccination was not required. And when contact with wild measles virus does not occur, the immune system requires an additional dose of vaccine to maintain immunity to infection. That is why experts in the field of epidemiology and medicine have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to vaccinate adults under 35 years of age against measles.

Adults may refuse vaccinations, citing the following reason: “I’ll get sick, okay, I’m no longer a child - I’ll survive somehow.” However, remember that there are children and elderly people around you, for whom you can become a source of infection. In addition, complications of measles in adults are quite dangerous, since they can be glomerulonephritis, myocarditis and conjunctivitis with damage to the cornea of ​​the eye, hearing loss (deafness). Therefore, as a responsible and mature person, it is necessary to get vaccinated against this infection as an adult. In addition, the measles vaccine is required for all adults who come into contact with a sick person. And since almost all children today are vaccinated, the virus causes illness in adults who have not been vaccinated or have not had the infection.

Vaccination of children against measles

The introduction of measles vaccination to infants at the age of 9 months leads to the formation of immunity in 85–90% of those vaccinated. This means that 10–15% of children do not develop immunity after vaccination at 9 months, and a second dose of the drug is necessary. When children are vaccinated at the age of 1 year, immunity is formed in 100% of children. Therefore, the World Health Organization considers the optimal time for measles vaccination to be one year old.

However, countries where the epidemiological situation regarding measles is unfavorable are forced to administer the vaccine to children as early as possible, that is, from 9 months of age. The consequence of this tactic is the presence of 10 - 15% of children who did not receive protection from infection after one dose of the drug. In this regard, in countries that introduce measles vaccination at 9 months, repeated immunization is carried out at 15–18 months so that all children can develop immunity to infection. This tactic has shown good efficiency and effectiveness.

In Russia, the epidemiological situation is not so dire, so children as young as 1 year can be vaccinated against measles. It is at this age that vaccination is scheduled in the national vaccination calendar. To prevent possible outbreaks of the epidemic in children's groups, a second dose of the vaccine is administered to activate immunity at 6 years of age, before the child enters school. This measles prevention tactic has made it possible to completely eliminate outbreaks of infection in schools, so today it is almost impossible to observe a situation where the entire class is on sick leave with the same diagnosis. And 10 years ago this situation was quite typical for Russian cities.

Measles vaccination per year

Therefore, to prevent measles infection in vulnerable children aged 1 to 5 years, it is necessary to get vaccinated as early as possible. After vaccination at 1 year of age, the child receives immunity, which reliably protects him from infection. The measles vaccine is easily tolerated by one-year-old children, rarely causing reactions that appear 5-15 days after the injection and pass very quickly.

In children, measles is dangerous due to its complications on the nervous system, primarily the formation of encephalitis and meningitis, as well as damage to the lungs in the form of severe pneumonia. These complications from measles occur in 1 child out of 1000 infected. And vaccination can cause complications in the form of damage to the nervous system in 1 child per 100,000 vaccinated children.

As the age of the child increases, when the child develops measles, the risk of developing complications from the nervous system decreases, but the risk of other conditions increases, for example, myocarditis, pyelonephritis, optic and auditory neuritis, which can result in a serious deterioration in health and a significant decrease in quality of life.

How many measles vaccinations are needed?

If the child has not been vaccinated against measles at one year, then he is given one dose as early as possible (for example, at two, or three, or four years). After this vaccination, the next scheduled one is given at the age of six, before entering school.

If an adult or a child over 6 years of age is vaccinated for the first time, two doses of the drug are administered, with an interval of at least 1 month between them. The optimal interval in this situation between the first and second dose of the vaccine is six months.

Immunization age (vaccination calendar)

• 1 year;
• 6 years;
• 15 – 17 years old.

• 9 months;
• 15 – 18 months;
• 6 years;
• 15 – 17 years old.

If a child over 6 years of age has not been vaccinated against measles, then two vaccines are administered with an interval of six months as soon as possible. The next vaccination schedule is at 15–17 years of age.

Where can I get a measles vaccination?

Private vaccination centers provide the service of administering vaccinations at home, when a special team arrives, assesses the person’s condition, and decides whether the drug can be administered or not. This method of immunization allows you to minimize the risk of catching a cold or getting the flu due to being in the corridors of the clinic.

Where is the vaccine injection given?

The vaccine should not be allowed to get into the skin, since in this case a compaction will form and the drug will enter the blood slowly, as a result of which the manipulation may be completely ineffective. An injection into the buttock should also be excluded, since the fat layer is highly developed here and the skin is quite thick, which creates difficulties for the correct administration of the vaccine preparation.

Effect of the vaccine

The third immunization at 15–17 years of age is carried out with a complex drug against measles-rubella-mumps. At this age, it is most important to revaccinate boys and girls against mumps and rubella, which can negatively affect the ability to bear children, and the measles component is simply additional, stimulating the maintenance and preservation of existing immunity to infection.

Measles after vaccination

However, a different situation may arise. The vaccination may not have led to the formation of immunity, so a child or adult who comes into contact with the virus can easily become infected and get sick. If measles-like symptoms developed between 5 and 15 days after the injection, then this is a reaction to the vaccine. If symptoms of measles are observed at any other time, then this is a full-fledged infection associated with the failure of vaccine immunity.

After measles vaccination

There are also a number of delayed reactions that appear 5 to 15 days after the injection. These reactions are a variant of the norm and do not indicate pathology or disease due to vaccination. Reactions are more often formed on the first dose of the drug, and the second and subsequent ones cause consequences much less frequently.

Reaction to the vaccine

Fever. Temperature can be observed on the first day after vaccination, and on days 5–15. The rise in temperature in some people is insignificant, while in others - on the contrary, up to a fever of 40 o C. The temperature reaction lasts from 1 to 4 days. Since temperature does not help the formation of immunity after vaccination, it must be brought down with paracetamol or ibuprofen. High fever can lead to seizures, especially in children.
Vaccination measles-rubella-mumps - rash. A variety of small pink papular rashes are observed in approximately 2% of vaccinated people 5–15 days after vaccination. The rash can cover the entire body, or be located only in certain places, most often behind the ears, on the neck, face, buttocks, and arms. The rash goes away on its own and does not require treatment. If a child is prone to allergic reactions, a rash may form on the first day after the injection.

Imported measles-rubella-mumps vaccine

The imported measles-rubella-mumps vaccine allows you to get one shot against three infections. And domestic drugs, as a rule, are administered in the form of two injections - one for measles-rubella, and the second for mumps. In this sense, an imported vaccine is more convenient, since it involves only one injection rather than two. Reactions after vaccination with domestic and imported vaccines are observed in exactly the same number of cases.

Over the past few years, the level of measles cases has increased several times and this is not surprising, because many parents refuse immunization, thereby exposing themselves and their children to great danger.

Measles is one of the most highly contagious viral infections. It is transmitted by a simple cough or sneeze of a sick person. And it is dangerous with its terrible complications. But there is real protection against this dangerous virus - vaccination. In today's article you will learn when children are vaccinated against measles, where the injection is given, how many times and what vaccines are used. We will also talk about why to vaccinate children, when emergency vaccination occurs and when there is a need to vaccinate babies under one year old.

Which measles vaccine is best for babies?

There are two types of vaccines: mono- and combined.

Among the mono-vaccines registered in Russia:

• “Live cultured measles vaccine”, manufacturer Microgen Russia;
• Rouvax, France.

Among the combination vaccines:

• “Mumps-measles cultural live vaccine”, Microgen, Russia. Protects against measles and mumps;
• "MMR II", USA manufacturer. Consists of three components, protects against measles, mumps and rubella"
• "Priorix", manufacturer Belgium. Protects against three diseases, like the previous one.”

Doctors believe that it is better to get a three-component vaccine. The advantages of three-component vaccines are that they are administered once, without the child being injured by subsequent injections. The choice is yours. Many pediatricians and mothers prefer the Belgian vaccine, as it is less reactogenic and has proven itself in our area.

What kind of vaccine is this?

The three-component combination vaccine, also called MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), is safe and protects against three different diseases: measles, mumps and rubella. For a full vaccination cycle, you need to receive two doses of the drug, but there are situations when the injection is given three times. A child who has received 2 doses is 97% protected from the virus.

How does it work?

The MMR vaccine contains a weakened version of live measles. Its meaning is that when it enters the body, it triggers the immune system and thereby forces the production of antibodies against the measles virus.

If, after immunization, the body encounters a virus, the immune system immediately recognizes it and instantly produces antibodies against measles.

When children are vaccinated against measles: vaccination schedule

According to the National Calendar and Vaccination Schedule for Children and Adults, the first vaccine against measles virus is given between the ages of 12 and 18 months.

The table shows the vaccination calendar for children:

If there is a medical exemption from vaccinating a child, the doctor can create an individual vaccination schedule.

The vaccination can be done at your local children's clinic, according to the vaccination schedule; such vaccination is provided by the state free of charge.

You can also be immunized at a private medical center for a fee, with the drug that this center offers.

Measles virus vaccination for children under one year of age

There are situations when immunization is carried out earlier than a year. Although this is not recommended, health is more expensive and doctors sometimes make such decisions. Here are the main reasons:

• An outbreak of measles in the city or town where the infant lives;
• Contact with a sick person (if less than three days have passed, urgent immunization is recommended);
• A trip abroad is an indication to get the vaccine.

With such early immunization, vaccination will need to be repeated two more times: at one year and at six years. This is due to the fact that at an earlier age the immune system is imperfect and antibodies to measles infection are not fully produced.

Emergency immunization

If a child has been exposed to the virus and has not been fully vaccinated or has received only one dose of MMR, if less than 72 hours have passed, urgent vaccination is recommended. If more than three days have passed, but less than 6, the vaccination will no longer help, but immunoglobulin can be administered.

Is it necessary to vaccinate?

This question worries most mothers. I would like to answer in one word: Yes.

But I understand that many will not be happy with this answer. In this case, let’s think, if 99% of children get sick when they encounter a virus, what is the probability of infecting an unvaccinated child? The second important point is that the virus is not as terrible as the complications it causes.

How to prepare the baby?

To minimize the likelihood of side effects from vaccination, you must follow a simple algorithm:

• 3 days before vaccination, we remove all allergenic foods from the diet: chocolate, honey, citrus fruits, red and orange fruits and vegetables, as well as those foods that can cause allergies in your baby;
• Some pediatricians recommend taking an antihistamine 2 days before and 1 day after vaccination to reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions;
• Have antipyretic syrup or suppositories in your home medicine cabinet;
• On the day of vaccination, visit the doctor and conduct a complete examination of the child. The baby must be completely healthy: without a runny nose, cough, fever, red throat, diarrhea, vomiting and other cold symptoms;
• If something confuses the pediatrician, an additional blood test is prescribed to confirm the absence of an inflammatory process in the body;
• The vaccination itself must be done only in a clinic or a special medical center, where all the rules for storing and using the drug are observed.

No nurse has the right to give vaccinations at home!

• After vaccination, it is recommended to sit in the hallway with the baby for 30 minutes; if there are no complaints or worries, you can go home.

Where is a child vaccinated against measles infection?

The injection is given intramuscularly, in the broad (lateral) muscle of the thigh or in the shoulder (WHO recommendations). In these places, the muscle itself is shallow and does not have large nerve endings and vessels. It is not safe to vaccinate children against measles in the buttock, since, firstly, there is a high probability of damaging the sciatic nerve, and secondly, there is a lot of fatty tissue in the buttocks and this reduces the absorption of the drug itself, and as a result, the effectiveness of the vaccine itself decreases.

All this is confirmed by the fundamental documents: “ENSURING THE SAFETY OF IMMUNIZATION. Sanitary and epidemiological rules. SP 3.3.2342-08" paragraph 3.37"

As a rule, one-year-old babies are given an injection in the shoulder, but older children are given an injection in the thigh muscle.

How long does the vaccine last?

If a child receives two vaccines, the average duration is 20 years. But sometimes the time is shortened.

In order to check whether you have antibodies to the measles virus in your body, it is enough to take a blood test for the presence of IgG antibodies. They are produced by the body as a result of measles or after vaccination. The analysis is not complicated, it takes from several hours to 2 days, almost every laboratory does it. If antibodies are not detected, it is recommended to repeat the vaccination.

How many times should children be vaccinated against measles?

If the vaccination schedule is fully observed, the child is vaccinated against measles twice: a year and at 6 years old, before school.

But if the baby’s first vaccination was given at six months, then two more visits are recommended: at one year and at six years.

It is also recommended that girls planning a pregnancy be tested for the presence of antibodies to measles, even if she received two doses of the vaccine as a child. If antibodies are not detected, it is recommended to get vaccinated again to avoid possible measles infection during pregnancy.

Should my baby be vaccinated against measles?

Parents are concerned about what to do, what to do? On the one hand, all medical institutions and the state are talking about vaccination, on the other hand, the community of mothers is arguing that this is absolutely unnecessary and can only harm the baby. What to do? My advice to you is to get acquainted with the statistics of the disease: look at what was happening in the world before vaccinations began and what their use led to.

Find out what adverse reactions from vaccination may be, in what percentage, and compare them with data on sick and unvaccinated babies

Thinking parents will immediately have a clear picture in their heads. Vaccination has helped the world control and prevent measles epidemics around the world. As for side effects, Panadol also has them.

This is exactly the question Dr. Komarovsky raises in his video: to vaccinate or not, let’s see:

conclusions

1. Vaccination against measles is essential for children to avoid the disease itself and its complications;
2. According to the vaccination schedule, vaccinations are given twice: a year and 6 years, but there are exceptions;
3. The injection is given in the shoulder or thigh muscle. Under no circumstances should it be done into the gluteal muscle;
4. There is a monocomponent measles vaccine and a three-component one. Preference is given to the second;
5. All vaccination issues are regulated by law: ENSURING THE SAFETY OF IMMUNIZATION.

Infectious disease doctors say that outbreaks of this insidious disease are characterized by periodicity. Increases in incidence occur at intervals of 5 or 6 years. It is no secret that in Russia over the past 2 years the number of people with measles has increased. Until July 2017, 127 cases of the disease were registered, mainly in Moscow and Dagestan. The increase in the number of cases is associated with numerous refusals of vaccination.

In order to prevent measles from entering the country, 95% of its population must be vaccinated. The so-called herd immunity is created. It will also protect those for whom vaccination is contraindicated. And a decrease in vaccination coverage by just 5% triples the incidence!

A similar situation is observed not only in the Russian Federation. Europe is also suffering. Many cases of infection have been reported in Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, and Austria. Romania has the highest mortality rate among cases.

What you need to know about measles

Measles is a serious viral disease of childhood, the main manifestations of which are a rash. The measles virus is easily transmitted through airborne droplets. Only humans get measles. It begins to secrete the virus 5 - 7 days before the first signs of the disease appear. After the symptoms disappear, the measles virus will be released for another 4 to 5 days.

Measles is very easy to get! Even after a short exposure of an unvaccinated child to this virus, the chances of getting sick are more than 90%!

This disease can be very mild. On average, a week after infection, the child’s body temperature rises to 38 - 39 degrees, and his health is impaired. The baby is capricious, does not play, refuses to eat, and tries to be in his mother’s arms. He develops severe weakness, cough, nasal discharge, eyes turn red, and watery eyes appear. Such symptoms can easily be confused with those of a common viral infection.

After 2 - 3 days from the onset of the disease, when examining the child’s oral cavity, white spots can be detected on the mucous membranes of the cheeks. And after some time, a rash appears on the face, which within a day spreads to the whole body. With the appearance of the rash, the body temperature rises sharply, and then it becomes clear that the child has measles. The rash lasts up to 7 days.

No drugs have been developed that will cure the disease. There are only those that will relieve the symptoms.

Only timely vaccination can protect against measles. But following the banal rules of hygiene: frequent hand washing, wearing masks, etc. are ineffective if the child lives in an area where there is an outbreak of this disease.

How dangerous is measles?

At first glance, measles seems to be a fairly mild disease. Some opponents of vaccinations even believe that it is useful, as it strengthens the child’s body. And epidemics are a thing of the past because hygiene has improved.

The measles virus greatly disrupts the baby's immune system. Protection against other, more severe infections is weakened. Because of this feature, dangerous complications often arise.

The immune system spends a lot of effort to defeat the disease and eventually becomes exhausted. The child’s body simply will not have the strength to withstand the dangerous complications that bacteria will cause. Under normal conditions, the baby would not get sick at all, but his strength is exhausted, and the body becomes defenseless.

More often, complications of measles occur in children under five years of age, adolescents, the elderly, and women at any stage of pregnancy. Among the consequences are the following:

• one child out of ten, after suffering from measles, will get measles caused by dangerous bacteria and will lose hearing for a long time;
• one in ten people who get sick will develop severe diarrhea;
• Every 20th sick child will have pneumonia. Because of such a terrible complication, children die most often;
• one in a thousand develops severe viral brain damage, which is incurable and leads to complete immobility and mental retardation;
• One or two children out of a thousand who have had measles die.

Measles vaccination schedule

As you can see, measles is not such a harmless infection. To completely protect a child from the unpleasant and disastrous consequences of this disease, there is only one way - vaccination.

Up to six to nine months of life, the mother’s antibodies will protect the baby from measles if she herself has been vaccinated or was ill in childhood. Children of this age are vaccinated only in exceptional cases. For example, if everyone in the family is infected with measles. This is done very rarely. In the future, vaccinations are given according to schedule.

According to the rules, the baby receives the first vaccination against measles at one year. And already from the beginning of the 2nd week from the date of vaccination, the body produces the amount of antibodies that is necessary to reliably protect the child from infection. Immunity can last up to 25 years.

It happens that 2 - 5% of vaccinated children develop insufficient or short-lived immunity due to a special reaction of the immune system or due to inadequate quality of the vaccine (unfortunately, this happens). Therefore, at the age of 6 - 7 years, the child is given a booster vaccination against measles. It aims to protect children who have not developed immunity to the first vaccination. Immunity after revaccination is developed in 99% of children.

If a child who has not had measles and has not been vaccinated has been in contact with a carrier of the infection or someone who is sick, they must be vaccinated within 72 hours after contact. This way you are less likely to get sick. When it comes to pregnant women, people with immunodeficiency and children under 12 months, immunoglobulin can be administered to protect them from infection.

In order for the baby to be completely protected from measles, it is necessary to get vaccinated according to the calendar - at 12 months, and then at 6 - 7 years.

Older people must have proof of being vaccinated twice. If there is no confidence in full vaccination, then the level of antibodies to measles in the blood can be determined. If they are present, you should not get vaccinated. In the absence of antibodies to measles, it is recommended to give 2 doses of the vaccine with an interval of 1 month. Or you can just get vaccinated once. The minimum dose of the vaccine will not harm, but will increase immunity.

What is the measles vaccine? Types of vaccines

To prevent measles, dry (lyophilized) vaccines are used. They contain live measles virus, but it is not capable of causing disease (it will be non-pathogenic). Such vaccines are called attenuated.

In Russia, a combined mumps-measles vaccine of its own production and a monovalent vaccine are used. The latter contains only the measles virus. The Priorix vaccine is produced in Belgium and additionally contains viruses and mumps.

In the production of the Russian vaccine, the measles virus is grown on the cells of Japanese quail embryos, and the Belgian vaccine is grown on the cells of chicken embryos. This feature must be taken into account for people who are allergic to chicken eggs.

Vaccines are also produced in India, the USA, and France. There is a vaccine that will immediately protect against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox, but it is not registered in Russia.

All vaccines are produced together with a solvent. Storage is carried out in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2 - 8 degrees. The sun's rays can destroy the measles virus in the vaccine, so it is produced in vials with darkened glass.

If parents themselves buy the measles vaccine at the pharmacy, you need to deliver it to the clinic as quickly as possible in a special thermal container or in a thermos with ice, so as not to violate storage conditions.

How is the measles vaccination done?

At 12 months, the baby gets his first measles vaccination. 2 weeks before vaccination, all contacts with patients with acute respiratory and other infectious diseases should be excluded. If someone in the family is sick, it is better to postpone vaccination for a while.

When a child does not have chronic diseases, special preparation for vaccination is not required. If the baby has a concomitant pathology, the pediatrician will give recommendations on medications and measures to ensure that the vaccination takes place with minimal side effects.

Before vaccination, the doctor conducts an examination, measures the child’s body temperature and informs parents about possible side effects and reactions to the vaccine. The examination data is entered into the outpatient card. If, according to the doctor’s opinion, the baby is healthy, you can safely go to the vaccination office. Before vaccination, parents must fill out an informed voluntary consent form.

In the vaccination room, the nurse also fills out the necessary documentation. Before opening a vaccine ampoule, she must check the expiration dates. The injection site (this is the outer area of ​​the shoulder or subscapular area) is treated with an antiseptic and 0.5 ml of the vaccine is injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

The measles virus contained in the vaccine loses its protective effect when exposed to alcohols and ethers, so the skin at the injection site must dry after treatment.

The vaccine is diluted immediately before administration. A pre-diluted vaccine, which was also stored in storage, cannot be administered - it will lose all its beneficial properties.

After vaccination, parents and their child must spend some more time in the clinic.

Within 30 minutes after the injection, the baby should be under the supervision of a nurse; it is at this time that acute allergic reactions can develop. The vaccination office has all the necessary equipment to help him in such a situation.

After vaccination, the child’s immune system recognizes the measles virus, and intensive production of antibodies begins - special immune cells that are able to neutralize the virus when they encounter it again. Antibodies will be contained both in the blood and in the secretions of the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. This is where the virus will penetrate first. By the end of the 2nd week after vaccination, the baby is already protected from the insidious disease.

Such a delay from vaccination is necessary to completely remove the antibodies from the baby’s body that he received with these drugs. Otherwise, they will simply interfere with the normal functioning of the immune system after vaccination, and the child will not receive full protection against measles.

Vaccination is temporarily contraindicated in acute viral diseases. It can be done immediately after the temperature drops and your health improves. Atopic dermatitis, anemia, dysbacteriosis are not contraindications to vaccination.

How to prepare for the measles vaccination and how can it be easier to get through it?

It is written above that before vaccination the child must be examined by a doctor. The doctor will determine whether the baby is ready for vaccination and will prescribe the necessary medications if there are chronic diseases.

If after vaccination the child experiences discomfort or is capricious, you can do the following:

• apply a cold compress to the injection site to relieve pain;
• Give medicine to relieve pain (ibuprofen and paracetamol).

If after a few days the temperature rises and you feel unwell, there is no need to panic. As mentioned above, this is a normal reaction to the vaccine. In this case, you can wipe the child with warm water, ventilate the room, do not wrap him up, and give him a warm drink. If the temperature causes discomfort, antipyretic drugs are given (Ibuprofen,).

Scientists say that the measles virus does not have the ability to change.

This means that thanks to mass vaccination, the disease can be defeated and measles will disappear from the face of the planet forever. This could save millions of children's lives. It is important not to give in to fears and panic before vaccinations and to take timely care of the baby’s future. You don’t need to wait for an epidemic in your city or country, but protect yourself and your child now.

Many experts consider prevention to be the best way to treat any disease. Sometimes it is precisely this wall that protects children from many infections. Vaccination against measles is the only way to guarantee a person’s protection against this dangerous disease. Thanks to immunization, the morbidity rate in children and adults was reduced to 85%.

Measles, all about the disease

Measles has become a fairly rare disease in children over one year of age due to regular immunization. This infection is dangerous for humans. Let us note the most important features of this disease:

1. When infected, the child's temperature rises significantly. It can reach more than 40 0 ​​C.
2. The disease is accompanied by symptoms similar to a cold (runny nose, dry cough, sneezing, sore throat). Specific manifestations are also observed in children, which include: hoarseness, photophobia, swelling of the eyelids, rashes on the body.
3. Infection of nearby people can occur up to 4 days of illness.
4. The development of the disease causes a sharp decrease in immunity in children. A number of bacterial complications can occur during infection.
5. After the mother suffers the disease, the child’s body will acquire immunity to the virus within 3 months, no more.
6. Measles is difficult for young children (under 5 years of age). One of the dangerous complications is death.
7. In 2011, the disease killed more than 100,000 children worldwide who were not vaccinated against measles.

The spread of the virus occurs through airborne droplets. A person with measles is contagious even during the incubation period. The causative agent of the infection in question is unstable in the external environment; it dies after exposure to physical and mechanical factors.

The importance of measles vaccination, vaccination schedule

Experts consider vaccination to be the only effective method of preventing infectious diseases. It does not need to be done if a person has contraindications. The first measles vaccine should be given between 12 and 15 months of age. Vaccination should be done at an early age because adults are more susceptible to vaccination than children.

The measles vaccine is sometimes combined with many other vaccines. Vaccinations against measles, mumps, and rubella are often given at the same time.

According to the plan, 2 measles vaccinations should be given. We indicated the timing of the first vaccination above, and the second should be performed at the age of 6 years (provided there are no contraindications). Usually the time for revaccination falls during the period of . Experts recommend conducting a test before measles vaccination, or after some time has passed (after 1.5 months). At the same time, these vaccinations are given only if there are emergency indications in a child over one year old.

The routine vaccine is administered to children twice (12–15 months, 6 years). In rare cases, you need to deviate from this vaccination schedule:

1. If one of the family members is infected, everyone under the age of 40 must be vaccinated. The exception is children under one year old.
2. When a child is born from a mother in whose blood no antibodies to the virus are detected, the baby is vaccinated in the first 8 months of life. Then the child is vaccinated according to plan (14 – 15 months, 6 years).

Parents, and even children themselves, are interested in the question: where do they get vaccinated against measles? 0.5 ml. The drug is administered to a child or an adult in the following areas:

• under the shoulder blade;
• outer shoulder area.

Preparing for the injection

No special preparation is required for vaccination:

1. Measles vaccination can only be given to healthy children (adults). There should be no signs of ARVI.
2. Before administering the drug, it is recommended to undergo a full examination by a doctor and take tests.

There are also rules for behavior after vaccination. They are as follows:

1. While taking a shower, you should not rub the area where the drug was injected.
2. Avoid visiting crowded places for three days.
3. You should not introduce new products to your child’s menu.

Measles vaccine for adults

If an adult decides to get vaccinated, he is recommended to undergo tests to detect antibodies to the infection. A person can have a latent form of measles without even knowing it. In this case, experts say that vaccination is not necessary.

Once the height of the epidemic has been confirmed, vaccinations cannot be done. If a person does not have a first vaccination, he should be vaccinated before traveling to a dangerous region (no later than 2 weeks before departure). The most cases of infection with the virus have been recorded in France, Germany, Great Britain, Romania, Italy, Denmark, Uzbekistan, and Spain.

The measles vaccine is given only for a certain period. Repeated administration of the drug is necessary after 3–5 years. The time for repeated vaccination in adults depends on the characteristics of the body and the vaccination schedule in the country.

Adults are vaccinated against measles up to 35 years of age, twice with a 3-month break between vaccinations. Revaccination is not needed. The body will remain immune to infection for more than 12 years. For adults, the drug is injected into the shoulder (upper third).

This infectious disease is dangerous due to complications. Among the most severe complications we list:

• encephalitis;
• pneumonia;
• otitis;
• meningoencephalitis;
• pyelonephritis;
• sinusitis;
• hepatitis;
• meningitis;
• Eustachitis.

What vaccines are used?

The measles vaccine contains live or weakened viruses. In this state, they are unable to cause illness in the child, but only help to develop the body’s immunity to infection. Features of the measles vaccine:

1. Thermal lability. The vaccine loses its properties when exposed to conditions with an uncomfortable temperature. Its storage should be carried out at temperatures up to 4 0 C, not higher. High/low temperatures provoke rapid destruction of the drug.
2. If any unused vaccine remains, it should be destroyed.
3. The drug should be administered with caution to people allergic to the antibiotic or egg white.

For preventive purposes, single vaccines and combination vaccines can be used (they also protect against rubella and mumps). Vaccines used:

1. "Ruwax." Made in France.
2. LCV (monovaccine).
3. Mumps-measles vaccine (Russia).
4. Priorix (UK).
5. MMR (combined measles, rubella, mumps). Made in USA.

How to choose a measles vaccine? The issue is quite complex; to solve it, consultation with a specialist is necessary. The doctor will be able to choose the best option by assessing the tolerability of a particular drug.

Even after vaccination, a child can get measles. The disease can develop when a child’s immunity has sharply decreased after a single vaccination. But if a child over one year of age becomes infected, the infection will be much easier to bear. Vaccination in this case helps to stop the development of the disease, prevent its severe course, and reduce the risk of complications.

Reaction to vaccination

Immunoprophylaxis is carried out using a weak live vaccine. It is very important to know whether and what consequences can occur after measles vaccination. The measles vaccine can provoke 2 types of reactions:

• general (redness of the pharynx, mild cough, flushing, runny nose, conjunctivitis);
• local (redness in the area of ​​vaccine administration, swelling). These manifestations disappear after a few days.

In some cases, the temperature may rise (after 6 days). The child may experience nosebleeds, decreased appetite, a measles-like rash, and malaise.

The reaction to the measles vaccine varies depending on the severity of the symptoms:

1. Weak. The temperature increase is noted by only 1 0 C. The symptoms of intoxication that we discussed above are not observed.
2. Average. The temperature rises within 37.6 – 38.5 0 C. Mild symptoms of intoxication are present.
3. Strong. The child has a very high temperature, weakness (for a short time), rash, cough, redness of the throat.

The above symptoms may occur when a single vaccine is administered (immunity against measles only). If combined vaccinations are carried out (rubella, mumps), additional symptoms may appear (inflammation of the salivary glands, joint pain).

Possible complications

Parents are concerned about how the measles vaccine is tolerated. Can post-vaccination complications occur? In medical practice, cases of severe complications have been recorded (very few). Usually the cause of complications lies in:

• violation of vaccination technique;
• failure to comply with contraindications;
• individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
• poor quality vaccine.

The following side effects may occur after vaccination:

Contraindications to vaccination for children and adults

Vaccination against measles will help avoid the dangerous consequences of the disease. But there are contraindications. In some cases, a child (adult) cannot be vaccinated against measles either at 12 months or again at the age of 6 years:

• pregnancy;
• primary immunodeficiency;
• the presence of severe complications from a previous vaccination;
• presence of allergies to aminoglycosides, chicken protein;
• neoplasm (malignant);
• vaccination is postponed for 3 months in case of administration of immunoglobulin and blood products;
• acquired immunodeficiency (AIDS). Vaccination is contraindicated in the development of its severe form. If there are no clinical manifestations of HIV infection, the administration of a live vaccine is allowed.

Documentation Features

All vaccinations are carried out only with the consent of the parents. Vaccinations performed must be documented. Measles vaccination also falls under this rule.

How does the vaccination process take place? Initially, the pediatrician examines the child. Before the drug is administered, parents are given a form to sign indicating that they consent to this medical procedure.

If parents are against vaccination, they are required to issue a written refusal to the procedure. The signature of one of them is enough. The refusal must be drawn up in two copies. The doctor pastes the first copy into the child’s card, copy No. 2 should be attached to the local journal “On immunization of the population.” Parents file an annual waiver of vaccination.

Preventing measles

Measles vaccination is considered the only preventive measure. The weakened virus is not dangerous to health; it will help the body develop immunity to the disease. Sometimes emergency prevention is needed. It consists of vaccination within 2–3 days after a child (over 6 months of age) comes into contact with a sick person.

For young children under one year old (aged 3–6 months), emergency prevention involves the administration of human immunoglobulin. It contains protective antibodies from the serum of donors and people who have had measles. After 2–3 months, active immunization can be done.