MMR vaccination: new thought.

INDIAN PEDIATRICS 555 VOLUME 43__JUNE 17, 2006 Measles is rightly called as captain of killer team in India. We used to see measles cases mostly between 1 to 3 years of age group and mumps in school going children. Morbidity due to measles and mumps is very well known. Nowadays there is distinct change in the measles and mumps disease pattern due to measles and MMR vaccination. Both these vaccine were supposed to offer lifelong immunity to the children. But now-a-days we see measles in 7 to 10 years age group children who received only measles vaccine by 9 months of age. Those children who received both measles and MMR vaccines, contracted measles and/or mumps by 12 to 15 years so it is obvious from our field experience that measles vaccines immunity wanes away by 7 to 8 years of age and when both measles and MMR vaccines are given to the children according to our IAP schedule(1) immunity against measles and mumps lasts up to 12 to 15 years of age. Mumps was the disease of school going children, but now we see mumps patients in much older age group children. So introduction of MMR is very useful, but it falls short of our expectation. Therefore, why not give booster dose of MMR say by 10 years of age? There is a strong recommendation of rubella vaccine in adolescent girls. But why only rubella? Measles, mumps are also troubling our adolescents. If we start repeating booster dose of MMR vaccine, say by 10 years of age, then there is no need of rubella vaccination as well. The immunity from MMR lasts for 10-15 yrs of age. Then a booster dose at 10 years of age will give a life long immunity. Our children should not suffer from measles, mumps and rubella during the crucial period of their life is the thought behind this communication.