MMR vaccination in adults
Since more than half of all measles infections today affect adolescents or young adults, the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STiKO) of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommended in 2010 that all adults born after 1970 with an unclear vaccination status (with no vaccination or only one of both vaccinations) be vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella. Even if no vaccination can be proven against only one of these pathogens, or if only one of these pathogens has not been vaccinated, the vaccination should preferably be given as a combined vaccine against mumps, measles and rubella, as there are also frequent vaccination gaps for rubella and mumps.Furthermore, the STiKO recommends that all people who work in the health care system (for example doctors and nurses, but also people in the rescue service), people who work in community facilities, such as kindergartens or schools, but also people who care for very sick people with weakened immune systems, should be vaccinated. or measles in adults
MMR vaccination before or during pregnancy
Every woman who is planning to become pregnant should inquire whether she was vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella in her childhood. If this is not the case, it is essential to catch up on the vaccination, because if you become infected with the pathogens during pregnancy and there is no vaccination protection for the mother, serious damage and malformations of the still unborn child can occur. Pregnant women should not be vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella, as this is an attenuated live vaccine and therefore theoretically these vaccination viruses could also cause damage.
For the same reason one should wait up to 3 months after vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella with a planned pregnancy. If a pregnancy has occurred and the expectant mother has not been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella and she then becomes infected with the pathogens, one has the possibility to perform a so-called post-exposure passive immunization with immunoglobulins. This is possible up to 6 days after the first contact with measles. Immunoglobulins are so to speak already “finished” antibodies, which should neutralize the pathogen in the body. It should be noted that these immunoglobulins would also catch the attenuated viruses of a later vaccination and thus no sufficient vaccination action of the immune system can be achieved.
