Update as of 20th August, 2025

Due to the resurgence of measles seen in Europe post-COVID19 pandemic and declining numbers of parents and carers vaccinating their children with the MMR and other childhood vaccines, there has been a change to the MMR vaccine schedule.

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. 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 dose of the MMR vaccine is being brought forward for children born after 1 July 2024 in an attempt to improve uptake of the MMR vaccine and should help us achieve the World Health Organization 95% uptake target needed to prevent outbreaks in the community.

In addition, we provide the following advice from clinicians for patients who are on immunosuppression:

Advice is that patients who are on immunosuppression if previously not vaccinated to MMR cannot be vaccinated now MMR is a live vaccine. Those patients who are fully vaccinated will usually be well protected even if on immunosuppression.