Provision of Free Measles Vaccine

Advice from NSW Health

 

Until further notice, NSW Health will provide free MMR vaccine to GPs for use in ALL susceptible people.

 

People considered to be susceptible and who should receive MMR vaccine include:

 

  • Children, who should be vaccinated at 12 months of age and 4 years in accordance with the immunisation schedule; and

 

  • anyone born after 1965 (i.e. 40 years or younger) who has never had measles and has not had two doses of vaccine against measles, and does not have documented (i.e. serological) immunity to measles.

 

If patients are unsure of their measles and vaccination history, there is no contraindication to providing MMR vaccine now.

 

Susceptible people planning overseas travel should always be reminded to include MMR as a pre-travel immunisation. Currently there are major outbreaks of measles in Germany and Fiji.

 

Measles infection in pregnancy is associated with increased foetal loss in early pregnancy and increased risk of maternal complications (such as pneumonia) in late pregnancy. Vaccination of susceptible women with MMR is recommended at least one month prior to a planned pregnancy.

 

NSW Health recommends that GPs discuss the need for MMR vaccination with all patients aged under 40years.

 

 

For further information, please contact Beth Bignell, Immunisation Program Officer at the IDGP.