The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has postposed many important events, including your child’s immunizations. The MMR2—the second shot of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine—is particularly important for New York area parents who remember the past year’s measles outbreak. Stephen Turner, MD, Medical Director, Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights, explains why parents need not worry if their child’s vaccination has been postponed.
Should I be concerned about delaying my child’s second MMR?
Fortunately, we do not have any measles circulating in the population at this time. So, it is a very reasonable option to delay the second MMR until a parent feels comfortable going to the physician’s office and getting the vaccine. The second dose, although most frequently given at age four, is recommended to be given between ages four to six according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immunization schedule, which gives a lot of flexibility for your child to be fully vaccinated on time.
Will delaying the second MMR put my child at any increased risk?
The second MMR is not a booster dose; it is to increase the immunity rate among the population. After one dose of MMR, approximately 92 percent of people are immune to measles. The second dose increases the immunity rate to 97 percent or higher. Therefore, a child who has received one MMR is very likely already immune.
How long can the vaccine be delayed?
There is no limit to how long the MMR2 vaccine can be delayed. In general, vaccines have a minimum spacing but not a maximum spacing. So, if a second dose of a vaccine is supposed to be two months later, for example, and you came back in two years, you pick up where you left off and get the second dose. Your child will not have to restart the vaccine series.