Measles virus vaccine, live (Subcutaneous)

Generic name: measles virus vaccine, live [ MEE-zuls-VYE-rus-VAX-een, lyve ]
Brand name: Attenuvax
Drug class: Viral vaccines

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 11, 2024.

Uses for measles virus vaccine, live

Measles Virus Vaccine Live is an immunizing agent used to prevent infection by the measles virus. It works by causing your body to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the virus. This vaccine does not protect you against German measles (Rubella). A separate immunization is needed for that type of measles.

Measles (also known as coughing measles, hard measles, morbilli, red measles, rubeola, and ten-day measles) is an infection that is easily spread from one person to another. Infection with measles can lead to serious problems, such as pneumonia, ear infections, sinus problems, convulsions (seizures), brain damage, and possibly death. The risk of serious complications and death is greater for adults and infants than for children and teenagers.

Immunization against measles is recommended for everyone 12 to 15 months of age and older. In addition, there may be special reasons why children from 6 months of age up to 12 months of age may also require measles vaccine.

Immunization against measles is usually not recommended for infants up to 12 months of age, unless the risk of their getting a measles infection is high. This is because antibodies they received from their mothers before birth may interfere with the effectiveness of the vaccine. Children who were immunized against measles before 12 months of age should be immunized twice again.

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

This vaccine is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor or other health care professional.

Before using measles virus vaccine, live

In deciding to use a vaccine, the risks of taking the vaccine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this vaccine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Measles vaccine usually is not recommended for infants up to 12 months of age. In special cases, such as children traveling outside the U.S. or children living in high-risk areas, measles vaccine may be given to children as young as 6 months of age.

Breast Feeding

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

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this vaccine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of 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 required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the 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 cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the 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

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this vaccine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Immune deficiency condition (or family history of)—Condition may increase the chance and severity of side effects of the vaccine and/or may decrease the useful effects of the vaccine

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

Proper use of measles virus vaccine, live

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.

Related/similar drugs

Priorix, measles virus vaccine / mumps virus vaccine / rubella virus vaccine, ProQuad, Attenuvax, M-M-R II

Precautions while using measles virus vaccine, live

Do not become pregnant for 3 months after receiving measles vaccine without first checking with your doctor.

Tell your doctor that you have received this vaccine:

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

Side Effects of measles virus vaccine, live

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need 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 occur 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 or 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.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Attenuvax

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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