MMR vaccine
The MMR vaccine protects you long-term against measles, mumps and rubella.
These three infections spread easily from person to person and can cause serious complications, including meningitis, blindness, and hearing loss.
If you’re pregnant, getting measles can lead to premature birth, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Meanwhile rubella can harm your baby’s development, potentially damaging their sight or hearing.
By getting two doses of the MMR vaccine, you build strong, lasting protection.
Vaccination also shields people who can’t get the vaccine – like unborn babies, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems.
Babies and young children
Babies and young children receive 2 doses of the MMR vaccine as part of the routine vaccination schedule—one at 1 year old and another at 3 years and 4 months.
In some cases, babies aged 6 to 12 months can get an extra early dose to protect them if:
- they’re travelling to a country where measles is common
- they’ve been in close contact with someone who has measles
- there’s a local measles outbreak
Older children and adults
It’s never too late to catch up. If you missed the vaccine as a child, only had one dose, or aren’t sure about your vaccination status, contact your GP practice to get protected.
More information
Frequently Asked Questions about the MMR vaccine
While the MMR vaccine gives protection to children over 12 months against measles, mumps and rubella, the immune response to the vaccine in babies under 12 months is not so strong and is unreliable.
Vaccination when younger
We only offer the vaccine to under ones when there is a high and imminent risk, such as during a nursery outbreak or when the child is travelling to a high risk country. But they would still need a further two doses to ensure they are fully protected.
The best way to protect the very young, who are more vulnerable, is by ensuring other children and members in the household are fully protected with two doses of MMR – hugely reducing the risk of them passing the virus onto the young child.
Your GP surgery should be able to check whether you’ve had both doses of the MMR vaccine.
You may also be able to access your vaccination record online through GP online services or the NHS app.
If your vaccination records are not available, or do not exist, it will not harm you to have the MMR vaccine again.
What’s changing?
From 1 January 2026, children born on or after 1 July 2024 will be offered the second dose of MMR vaccine at a new 18 month vaccination appointment. Any children who miss this second dose of MMR can have it at their pre-school vaccination appointment at 3 year and 4 months, at the same time as their 4 in 1 booster.
Children born before 1 July 2024 who are still due their second MMR dose will continue to have it at their pre-school appointment at 3 years and 4 months.
The second MMR dose is clinically effective whether it is given at 18 months or at 3 years and 4 months. Both schedules provide excellent protection against these serious diseases.
Why the change?
The second dose of the MMR vaccine is being brought forward from January 2026 in an attempt to improve uptake of the MMR vaccine. It should help us achieve the The World Health Organization’s 95 per cent uptake target which is is needed to prevent outbreaks in the community.
If you are unsure about which vaccines your child is due, please check their Red Book or speak to your GP practice or health visitor who can provide personalised advice about your child’s immunisations.
As a precaution, the MMR vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women.
You should also avoid becoming pregnant for one month after having the MMR vaccine.
It’s best to let your GP or midwife know if you had the MMR vaccine while you were pregnant.
Evidence suggests there will be no harm to your baby, but it’s better to let them know.
The MMR vaccine is not recommended for people with a severely weakened immune system. For example, people receiving chemotherapy.
If you have a medical condition, or are taking medicine that may affect your immune system, check with your healthcare provider if it’s safe for you to have the MMR vaccine.
Yes it does, but anyone who is unable to consume pork products can request a non-porcine version (Priorix) of the vaccination from their GP.
The evidence is clear: there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism with many studies including WHO, and those published in The Lancet, reporting on this.
