MMR
Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)
MMR: 2 doses; first dose from 12 months; second dose at least 4 weeks after the first (CDC). The Measles, Mumps & Rubella vaccine protects against Measles, mumps, rubella.
Typically required for school
Key takeaways
- On the routine, on-time schedule, MMR is a 2-dose series. Delaying the start doesn't change the total number of MMR doses — it spaces them out.
- MMR can be given on a slower, spaced-out schedule. The dose count stays the same, but visits can be spread out. Minimum ages and intervals still apply, and the planner enforces them automatically.
- None of the MMR products listed on this page contain an aluminum adjuvant.
- MMR is required for kindergarten entry in most US states. Check your state's exact list on the requirements-by-state pages.
What changes when MMR is delayed?
On the routine, started-on-time schedule, MMR is a 2-dose series. Delaying the start does not always change this, but for several vaccines the CDC's own catch-up rules mean a later start needs fewer total doses. Here is what applies to MMR:
- Always 2 doses; the first cannot be given before 12 months.
- Doses ≥4 weeks apart. Routinely dose 2 is at age 4–6 (school entry).
- Give MMR and Varicella as separate shots before age 4 (lower febrile-seizure risk).
The exact timing depends on your child's age and how you space visits. The spaced-out scheduler applies these rules automatically and shows the minimum doses still needed by your deadline. For a fuller look at timing, risks and catch-up, see the delay guide for MMR.
What brands and ingredients does the MMR vaccine have?
The US-licensed products below are listed with their manufacturer, aluminum content, preservative and egg flags, and full ingredient list. Each card links to the official CDC or FDA source. Formulations change — treat these as a starting point, not the final word.
Single-disease brands
M-M-R II
Merck · Measles + Mumps + Rubella
Live attenuated — no aluminum.
Ingredients (10)
- sorbitol
- sucrose
- hydrolyzed gelatin
- recombinant human albumin
- fetal bovine serum
- neomycin
- monosodium glutamate
- sodium phosphate
- sodium chloride
- amino acids and vitamins
Priorix
GlaxoSmithKline · Measles + Mumps + Rubella
Live attenuated; no aluminum adjuvant listed on the label and no preservative. The prefilled diluent syringe tip cap contains natural rubber latex. Licensed for ages 12 months and older.
Ingredients (7)
- anhydrous lactose
- sorbitol
- mannitol
- amino acids
- neomycin sulfate (residual)
- ovalbumin (residual)
- bovine serum albumin (residual)
Combination brands that include this vaccine
ProQuad
Merck · MMR + Varicella (MMRV)
Live vaccine — no aluminum.
Ingredients (11)
- sucrose
- hydrolyzed gelatin
- monosodium L-glutamate
- sodium phosphate
- recombinant human albumin
- sodium bicarbonate
- potassium phosphate
- potassium chloride
- MRC-5 cell components (DNA & protein)
- neomycin
- bovine calf serum
MMR vaccine FAQs
How many doses of MMR does my child need?
On the routine, on-time schedule, MMR is a 2-dose series. Delaying the start doesn't change the total number of MMR doses — it spaces them out.
Can the MMR vaccine be delayed or spaced out?
Yes. MMR can be given on a slower, spaced-out schedule. The dose count stays the same, but visits can be spread out. Minimum ages and intervals still apply, and the planner enforces them automatically.
Does the MMR vaccine contain aluminum?
No. None of the MMR products listed on this page contain an aluminum adjuvant.
Is MMR required for school?
MMR is required for kindergarten entry in most US states. Check your state's exact list on the requirements-by-state pages. See requirements by state.
Plan MMR on a slower schedule
See how many MMR doses your child would still need and when, on a spaced-out plan that finishes in time for school. Review the result with your child's healthcare practitioner.
Build my plan →Sources
Primary sources only. Links open the publisher's own page.
- CDC Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (opens in a new tab)
- CDC Catch-up Immunization Schedule (Table 2) (opens in a new tab)
- CDC Child and Adolescent Schedule Notes (opens in a new tab)
- CDC Vaccine Excipient Summary (Pink Book, Appendix B) (opens in a new tab)
- FDA Vaccines Licensed for Use in the United States (opens in a new tab)
- CDC CDC Vaccine Excipient Summary (Appendix B) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Merck PI — M-M-R II (opens in a new tab)
- DailyMed FDA/DailyMed PI — Priorix (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Merck PI — ProQuad (opens in a new tab)