Does The MMR Vaccine Work?

The MMR vaccine, which is routinely given to children at the age of 13 months, than again as a booster at the age of 3 to 5 years is very effective at providing immunity against measles, mumps and rubella. The first dose given at the age of 13 months has been tested and has been shown to give 90 per cent protectionagains measles and mumps and 95 per cent protection against rubella (german measles). After the second dose, the booster vaccination, the level of protection goes up to nearly 99 per cent for all three infectious diseases.

The vaccine was first used in the UK in 1988 and the number of children in the country who get measles, mumps or German measles has fallen dramatically. No child in the UK has died from measles since 1992.

However, the vaccine is not without its controversy and, since some people claimed it is linked with autism, the take up rate did suffer some dips, which a resurgence of the infections. To date, however, compliance seems to have returned to high levels.