a second dose of measles, mumps and rubella live vaccine is given to both sexes before starting school
the first MMR vaccine provides protection of over 90% of vaccinated children to measles
a single MMR provides over 95-100% protection to rubella
a single MMR providesconfers between 61% and 91% protection against mumps
a more recent study in the UK suggested that a single dose of MMR is around 64% effective against mumps (2)
therefore, two doses of MMR are required to produce satisfactory protection against measles, mumps and rubella
the second vaccine (although often termed the MMR preschool booster) is designed to protect those children who were not protected by the first MMR vaccine
there is no need to wait until the preschool booster - the second MMR vaccine can be administered at any time after at least three months have elapsed since the first dose (1)
Reference:
Prescriber 2000; 11 (13): 65-69.
mmunisation Against Infectious Disease - "The Green Book".Chapter 21 Measles (April 2019).
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