Measles Vaccines Are Considered Fully Interchangeable

The U.S. CDC's recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) confirmed that both U.S. FDA-approved measles vaccines are interchangeable for all indications for which measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination is recommended.

On November 18, 2022, the MMWR stated PRIORIX and M-M-R® II vaccines from different manufacturers would help safeguard the U.S. vaccine supply and mitigate mumps cases and outbreaks.

This is essential news since the CDC recently announced nearly 61 million measles vaccine doses were postponed or missed due to related delays in immunization campaigns in 18 countries. 

"The record number of children under-immunized and susceptible to measles shows the profound damage immunization systems have sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic," said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky in a press release on November 23, 2022.

"Measles outbreaks illustrate weaknesses in immunization programs, but public health officials can use outbreak response to identify communities at risk, understand causes of under-vaccination, and help deliver locally tailored solutions to ensure vaccinations are available to all."

The CDC posts the top ten global measles outbreaks this year, led by India, with 9,489 cases.

PRIORIX is formulated without preservatives and is administered as a subcutaneous injection, the same as M-M-R® II. A single dose after reconstitution is approximately 0.5 mL.

PRIORIX can be administered concomitantly, at different anatomic sites, with other routine childhood vaccines.

Concomitant administration of PRIORIX with other live and nonlive vaccines has been studied, with results indicating no safety concerns or evidence for interference in the immune response to either vaccine.

However, additional live virus vaccines not administered on the same day should be separated by ≥4 weeks.

Other MMR vaccine news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/Measles.