The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recently updated advice to recommend that infants aged six to 11 months receive an additional dose of a measles-containing vaccine when travelling overseas.

Where an infant aged 6 to 11 months receives an MMR dose before travelling overseas, the dose needs to be repeated. This means that these infants need 2 further doses of measles-containing vaccine. They should receive the next dose of MMR vaccine at 12 months of age or 4 weeks after the 1st dose, whichever is later. They should receive their final dose of measles-containing vaccine as MMRV vaccine at 18 months of age as routinely recommended.

It is not necessary to repeat an early dose if it was given at greater than 11 months but before 12 months of age.

Outbreaks of measles continue in many countries. Australians travelling overseas may be at risk of infection with measles. This includes travelers to popular tourist destinations; for example, periodic outbreaks of measles continue to be reported in Indonesia, including Bali.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd – Measles vaccination advice