Guidelines Updated for Mumps Immunization
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently updated recommendations for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations. Medscape's Medical news site provides a summary at Guidelines Updated for Mumps Immunization. "According to the 1998 ACIP recommendations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, for routine vaccination, a first dose of MMR vaccine is recommended at ages 12 - 15 months and a second dose at ages 4 - 6 years," the guidelines state. "Two doses of MMR vaccine also are recommended for students attending colleges and other post-high school institutions. However, documentation of mumps immunity through vaccination has consisted of only 1 dose of mumps-containing vaccine for all designated groups, including health-care workers." "Key changes to the 1998 guidelines involve acceptable presumptive evidence of immunity to mumps, routine vaccination for healthcare workers, and mumps outbreak control." State and school requirements vary. For a general summary of the mumps disease, vaccination schedules for children and adults, listing of people who should not be vaccinated, immunity, and statistics, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.