Measles virus vaccine, live (Subcutaneous)

Measles Virus Vaccine Live is a medicine used to prevent infection by the measles virus. It helps your body make its own protection (antibodies) against the virus. This vaccine does not protect you against German measles (Rubella). You need a separate vaccine for that type of measles.

Measles (also known as coughing measles, hard measles, morbilli, red measles, rubeola, and ten-day measles) is a highly contagious infection. Getting measles can lead to serious issues, such as pneumonia, ear infections, sinus problems, convulsions (seizures), brain damage, and even death. The chances of serious complications and death are higher for adults and infants than for children and teenagers.

It is recommended that everyone aged 12 to 15 months and older get immunized against measles. There may also be special reasons for children between 6 months and 12 months to receive the measles vaccine.

Immunization against measles is usually not advised for infants under 12 months, unless they are at high risk for measles infection. This is because antibodies they received from their mothers before birth may reduce the vaccine's effectiveness. Children who received the measles vaccine before turning 12 months need to be vaccinated twice more.

You can be considered immune to measles only if you received two doses of the measles vaccine starting on or after your first birthday and have the medical record to show it, if you have a doctor's diagnosis of a previous measles infection, or if a blood test shows you are immune to measles.

This vaccine should only be given by or under the supervision of your doctor or another health care professional.

Do not become pregnant for 3 months after receiving the measles virus vaccine, live (Subcutaneous) without first checking with your doctor.

Tell your doctor that you have received this vaccine:

• If you are going to have a tuberculin skin test within 4 to 6 weeks after getting this vaccine. The results of the test may be influenced by this vaccine.
• If you are going to receive this vaccine within 2 weeks before or 3 to 11 months after having blood transfusions or other blood products.
• If you are going to receive this vaccine 2 weeks before or 3 to 11 months after receiving gamma globulin or other immune globulins.

In deciding to use a vaccine, you need to consider the risks of the vaccine against the benefits it will provide. This decision will be made together with your doctor. For this vaccine, you should think about the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have any other allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

The measles vaccine is usually not recommended for infants under 12 months old. However, in special cases, such as children traveling outside the U.S. or living in high-risk areas, the measles vaccine may be given to children as young as 6 months.

Breast Feeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these situations, your doctor may want to adjust the dose or take other precautions. When you receive this vaccine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Receiving this vaccine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to use this vaccine or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Alemtuzumab
• Bendamustine
• Bortezomib
• Bosutinib
• Cabazitaxel
• Capecitabine
• Carboplatin
• Carfilzomib
• Carmustine
• Chlorambucil
• Cisplatin
• Cladribine
• Clofarabine
• Cyclophosphamide
• Cytarabine
• Cytarabine Liposome
• Dacarbazine
• Dasatinib
• Daunorubicin
• Daunorubicin Citrate Liposome
• Daunorubicin Liposome
• Deflazacort
• Docetaxel
• Doxorubicin
• Epirubicin
• Etoposide
• Fludarabine
• Fluorouracil
• Gemcitabine
• Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin
• Hydroxyurea
• Idarubicin
• Ifosfamide
• Imatinib
• Interferon Alfa
• Irinotecan
• Irinotecan Liposome
• Lomustine
• Mechlorethamine
• Melphalan
• Mercaptopurine
• Methotrexate
• Mitomycin
• Mitoxantrone
• Nelarabine
• Nilotinib
• Ofatumumab
• Oxaliplatin
• Paclitaxel
• Paclitaxel Protein-Bound
• Pemetrexed
• Pentostatin
• Ponatinib
• Procarbazine
• Rituximab
• Temozolomide
• Teniposide
• Thiotepa
• Topotecan
• Tositumomab
• Vinblastine
• Vinorelbine

Receiving this vaccine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Adalimumab
• Anifrolumab-fnia
• Ansuvimab-zykl
• Antithymocyte Globulin Rabbit
• Atoltivimab
• Axicabtagene Ciloleucel
• Azathioprine
• Baricitinib
• Belatacept
• Betibeglogene Autotemcel
• Bimekizumab-bkzx
• Brexucabtagene Autoleucel
• Brodalumab
• Canakinumab
• Certolizumab Pegol
• Deucravacitinib
• Dupilumab
• Efgartigimod Alfa-fcab
• Elivaldogene Autotemcel
• Emapalumab-lzsg
• Etanercept
• Etrasimod
• Everolimus
• Fingolimod
• Golimumab
• Guselkumab
• Hyaluronidase
• Immune Globulin
• Inebilizumab-cdon
• Infliximab
• Ixekizumab
• Leflunomide
• Leniolisib
• Meningococcal Vaccine
• Mirikizumab-mrkz
• Mycophenolic Acid
• Ocrelizumab
• Ozanimod
• Ponesimod
• Rilonacept
• Risankizumab-rzaa
• Ritlecitinib
• Rozanolixizumab-noli
• Sarilumab
• Satralizumab-mwge
• Secukinumab
• Siponimod
• Sirolimus
• Spesolimab-sbzo
• Tacrolimus
• Teplizumab-mzwv
• Teriflunomide
• Tildrakizumab-asmn
• Tocilizumab
• Tofacitinib
• Trabectedin
• Tralokinumab-ldrm
• Ublituximab-xiiy
• Upadacitinib
• Ustekinumab
• Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec-rvox
• Vamorolone
• Voclosporin

Receiving this vaccine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both medicines may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Abatacept
• Cytomegalovirus Immune Globulin, Human
• Hepatitis B Immune Globulin
• Rabies Immune Globulin
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immune Globulin, Human
• Tetanus Immune Globulin
• Vaccinia Immune Globulin, Human
• Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be taken around the time of eating food or certain types of food, as interactions may happen. Using alcohol or tobacco with some medicines may also lead to interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical issues may affect your ability to use this vaccine. Be sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Immune deficiency condition (or family history of)—This condition may increase the chance and severity of side effects from the vaccine and/or may reduce the vaccine's effectiveness.

• Severe illness with fever—The symptoms may be confused with possible side effects of the vaccine.

Along with its intended effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but if they do, they may require medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Symptoms of allergic reaction

• Difficulty in breathing or swallowing
• hives
• itching, especially of feet or hands
• reddening of skin, especially around ears
• swelling of eyes, face, or inside of nose
• unusual tiredness or weakness (sudden and severe)

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Fever over 103 °F (39.4 °C)

Rare

• Bruising or purple spots on skin
• confusion
• double vision
• headache (severe or continuing)
• irritability
• stiff neck
• swelling, blistering or pain at place of injection
• swelling of glands in neck
• vomiting

Some side effects may happen that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome, or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Burning or stinging at place of injection
• fever of 100 °F (37.7 °C) or less

Less common

• Fever between 100 and 103 °F (37.7 and 39.4 °C)
• itching, swelling, redness, tenderness, or hard lump at place of injection
• skin rash

Fever or skin rash may occur from 5 to 12 days after vaccination and usually lasts several days.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Attenuvax

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For injection dosage form: For prevention of measles: Adults and children 12 months of age and older—One dose injected under the skin, followed by a second dose at least one month later.