What the MMR vaccine protects against
A single injection against three viruses. Measles: fever, rash, and in some cases pneumonia, deafness or brain swelling. Mumps: swollen glands, sometimes meningitis or hearing loss. Rubella: mild in children but causes serious birth defects in pregnancy.
Also known as: ROR, MMRV when combined with varicella
Why children are given it
Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known - around 95% of a population needs to be immune to stop it spreading. Outbreaks return quickly wherever uptake drops. Two doses give near-complete lifelong protection.
From each country's official schedule, checked against its sources (last full check 2026-09-16). Tap a country for its whole schedule and a personalised timeline.
| Country | Routine doses |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1 year (12-13 months) (1st of 2) MMRV vaccine 18 months (2nd of 2) MMRV vaccine 3 years 4 months (1st or 2nd dose (older cohorts))
MMRV vaccine (catch-up) |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 12 to 15 months (1st of 2) MMR 4 to 6 years (2nd of 2)
MMR |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 12 months (1st of 2) MMR 18 months (2nd dose) MMR or MMRV (2nd dose, province dependent) 4 to 6 years (2nd dose)
MMR / varicella (2nd dose, if not given at 18 months) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 12 months (1st of 2 (as MMR)) MMR 18 months (2nd MMR + varicella)
MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 6 months (1st of 2) Measles-Rubella (MR) 12 months (2nd of 2)
Measles-Rubella (MR) |
| 🇮🇳 India | 9 to 12 months (1st of 2) Measles-Rubella (MR-1) 16 to 24 months (2nd of 2)
Measles-Rubella (MR-2) |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 12 months (1st of 2) Measles, mumps and rubella 6 years (2nd of 2)
Measles, mumps and rubella |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 11 months (1st of 2) MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) 15 months (2nd of 2)
MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 12 months (1st of 2) MMR Junior infants (age 4-5, school) (2nd measles + 2nd chickenpox dose)
MMRV vaccine |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 12 months (1st of 2) MMR 15 months (2nd of 2)
MMR |
| 🇫🇷 France | 12 months (1st of 2) MMR (ROR - rougeole-oreillons-rubeole) 16 to 18 months (2nd of 2)
MMR (ROR) |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 14 months (1st of 2) BMR (MMR - measles, mumps, rubella) 3 years (age 3) (2nd of 2)
BMR (MMR) 2nd dose |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 12 months (1st of 2) Triplice viral (MMR) 15 months (2nd MMR + varicella)
Tetra viral (MMR + varicella) |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 12 months (1st of 2) MMR 15 months (2nd of 2) MMR Secondary 1 (around 12-13 years, school) (Catch-up if needed)
MMR (catch-up) |
Good to know
- One dose protects about 93 in every 100 children against measles; the second dose raises this to about 97 in 100, which is why both doses matter.
- It is a live vaccine, so it is usually not given before 12 months on routine schedules (except early "travel" doses, which are then repeated).
- Some countries give MMR and chickenpox together as one MMRV injection, others as two separate injections.
Side effects: what is normal
- A sore, red or swollen arm or leg where the injection was given.
- About 7 to 11 days after the injection, some children get a high temperature or a mild measles-like rash for 2 or 3 days. This is the vaccine working and is not catching.
- Around 3 weeks later, a small number get mild swelling of the cheek or neck glands, like a very mild mumps.
- Serious reactions are very rare. There is no link between MMR and autism - this has been studied in millions of children.
Most side effects are mild and pass within a day or two. Get medical advice straight away if your child has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or mouth, a fit, a temperature of 38°C or more in a baby under 3 months, or you are worried in any way. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your doctor, nurse, health visitor or pharmacist can advise on your own child.
It depends on the country. Across the 14 countries that include it on their routine schedule, the first dose is given from 6 months to 14 months. In the UK it is given at 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months. In the US it is given at 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years. The table on this page shows every country.
Routine schedules give 2 to 3 doses in childhood, depending on the country and the product used. Combination vaccines can mean one injection counts towards several diseases.
Yes - all 14 countries on this site include it on their routine childhood schedule, although the ages and number of doses differ.
Yes. Vaccines on the childhood schedule are given by age, not by sex - girls and boys receive the same doses at the same ages.
It is almost never too late to catch up, and a missed dose rarely means starting again - your doctor or nurse will continue from where your child left off. A few vaccines (such as rotavirus) have upper age limits. Contact your clinic to book a catch-up appointment.
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
- Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) / National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
- Australia - Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- South Africa - National Department of Health - Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI-SA)
- India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
- Russia - Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation - National Preventive Vaccination Calendar
- Germany - Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute / ECDC
- Ireland - Health Service Executive (HSE) / National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)
- New Zealand - Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora / Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
- France - Ministere de la Sante / Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) - calendrier vaccinal
- Netherlands - RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma)
- Brazil - Ministerio da Saude - Programa Nacional de Imunizacoes (PNI)
- Singapore - Ministry of Health (MOH) / Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) - National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS)
- NHS - MMR vaccine (side effects and more)
- NHS - NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- CDC - Possible side effects from vaccines
- WHO - Vaccines and immunization
How we research and check this information: our editorial policy.
More vaccine guides
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine · 6-in-1 vaccine · Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine · Polio vaccine · Hib vaccine · Hepatitis B vaccine · Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) · Rotavirus vaccine · MenB vaccine · MenACWY and MenC vaccines · HPV vaccine · Children's flu vaccine · BCG (tuberculosis) vaccine · Hepatitis A vaccine · RSV protection for babies
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