National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
Autism and the MMR Vaccine

Should my child have the MMR vaccine?

Both the CDC and the AAP recommend that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, as long as they have no known health problems that prevent the vaccine from being effective. The CDC and AAP immunization schedules recommend that the first dose be given at age 12-to-15 months, while the second dose should be given at either four-to-six years of age or 11-to-12 years of age.

Allergies, immune system diseases like HIV, or other sicknesses can interact with a vaccine to make it less effective. These interactions can sometimes cause other health problems. If your child is sick, your doctor may delay the vaccination until your child is healthy. For example, a child with a fever should not have a vaccination until the fever is gone. Make sure you give a complete description of your child’s current health and health history to your child’s doctor at every visit, so he or she can help you make an informed choice about the timing of your child’s vaccinations.

NICHD
Last Update: 08/15/2006