How long does the measles vaccine last? Is measles vaccination mandatory for adults?

The infectious disease measles has a viral pathogen, differs high degree contagiousness and is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, upper respiratory tract, high fever and a characteristic maculopapular rash. Children and adults are susceptible to infection; in the latter, the consequences may be more severe.

Measles vaccination schedule

The legislation has developed a measles vaccination schedule for adults. It provides vaccination to adults under 35 years of age if they have not previously been vaccinated or do not know if they have been given an injection.

When using a domestic vaccine, vaccination is free of charge, while an imported vaccine is paid for. People over 35 also need to be vaccinated, but they pay for the vaccine themselves.

Why do adults need the measles vaccine?

Measles revaccination in adults can be carried out routinely or urgently. Indications for it:

• emergency prevention when traveling abroad;
• contact with infected people, provided that the person has not had measles or has not been vaccinated;
• routine vaccination from measles, rubella and mumps.

Vaccination is carried out in two stages with an interval of 3 months. After a properly carried out procedure, immunity to infection is developed for a period of 12 years.

Why is measles dangerous for adults?

The disease is more severe than in children and significantly undermines the immune system. Possible consequences become:

• redness of the skin at the injection site;
• joint pain;
• temperature increase;
• runny nose, cough;
• allergies, urticaria, anaphylactic shock;
• pneumonitis, myocarditis, encephalitis, meningitis.

Types of measles vaccines

When immunizing, you can choose a vaccine. There are several types:

1. Live measles vaccine, cultured, Russian, registered in 2000. The virus for it is grown in Japanese cell culture quail eggs, so it can cause allergies. The disadvantages include possible complications.
2. Priorix is ​​a Belgian complex vaccine that provides immunity against measles, mumps and rubella. The advantages include good tolerability, and the disadvantages include the possibility of developing allergies.
3. MMR II – live vaccine from Holland, comprehensively protects against measles, rubella and mumps. The advantages of its use include protection from three diseases at once, and the disadvantages are the high cost.

All imported vaccines are interchangeable, so you can vaccinate with one and revaccinate with another.

They can also be used separately for each infection. Russian vaccination against measles protects an adult from only one disease, but it is free, while the rest are paid.

When is measles vaccination contraindicated for adults?

Vaccination is postponed for at least one month if an exacerbation of respiratory infections or exacerbation of chronic diseases is detected in the patient. List of contraindications for measles vaccination:

• pregnancy;
• breast-feeding;
• allergy to quail and chicken eggs;
• allergy to antibiotics;
• allergic reaction for previous vaccinations;
• therapy with drugs that weaken the immune system;
• some oncological diseases.

Rules for preparing for vaccination

It is necessary to clarify the timing of vaccination in advance and, in the period before it, avoid contact with sources of infection. Before the procedure, you should try to avoid stressful situations(including not overcooling, not changing time and climate zones, and avoiding excessive exposure to the sun), since stress can change the reactivity of the immune system.

For injection you need to use a sterile syringe. It is necessary to make sure that it does not contain antiseptics, preservatives and detergents, which can kill the weakened virus and deactivate the vaccine. The solvent must be absolutely sterile. Before the procedure, you need to carefully inspect the bottle with the drug for the absence of foreign mechanical particles. The color should be transparent and yellowish.

Vaccination technique

The vaccine is injected into the upper third of the upper arm. There are two main methods for vaccination: intramuscular and subcutaneous. Absolutely forbidden intravenous administration. It is highly undesirable to choose the buttock as the injection site or to inject it into a thick layer of skin. In the latter case, there is a high probability of compaction formation. The standard dose of the drug is 0.5 ml.

Possible complications after measles vaccination in adults

The consequences of measles vaccination can be mild, dangerous or severe. Among the complications are:

skin redness;	allergic shock;
elevated temperature(up to 37.5 degrees);	hives;	meningoencephalitis;
	Quincke's edema;	myocarditis;
	otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis, eustachitis;	meningitis;
joint pain;		pneumonia;
convulsions, clouding of consciousness.

Today we'll talk about vaccination against measles - one of the so-called childhood infections, the causative agent of which is extremely contagious, or, as experts say, is highly contagious. In order to get measles, it is not necessary to come into close contact with a sick person - say, come to visit him or be near him in public transport— the measles virus easily travels a distance of several tens of meters with air flow, for example, along the flights of stairs at home. Due to this ease of spread, measles is classified as a so-called volatile viral infection, along with rubella and chickenpox. It is because of their widespread prevalence and contagiousness that most people become ill with them while they are still children. These diseases leave behind lifelong immunity; in other words, they usually only get sick once.

Measles: a “portrait” of the disease

For many centuries due to high mortality measles was considered one of the most dangerous diseases childhood. In Russia, every fourth child died from measles, which gave rise to calling this disease the childhood plague. Preventive actions against measles have been carried out since 1916. Since the development of measles vaccine, the incidence and fatal outcome managed to reduce hundreds of times.

However, even in our time, the mortality rate from measles is high. According to the World Health Organization, about 900 thousand (!) children die from measles every year around the world.

As is known, viruses that cause infections are able to reproduce only in certain cells of the human body, which determines the symptoms of the disease, and its severity depends on the number of cells damaged by the virus. The measles virus has a special affinity for cells respiratory system, intestines, and, importantly, to the cells of the central nervous system.

You can get measles at any age; among unvaccinated children, children from 1 to 5 years old are more likely to get measles. Up to one year old, babies rarely get sick due to the small number of contacts and the presence of passive immunity received from the mother during pregnancy. This immunity lasts no longer than 1 year after birth. If the mother has not had measles, the child may become ill in the first months of life.

Symptoms and course of measles

The measles virus enters the body through the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and conjunctiva. From the moment of infection to the first symptoms of the disease, it usually takes 8-12 days, in some cases this period extends to 28 days. At the onset of the disease, symptoms similar to colds appear: increasing general malaise, lethargy, headache, the child becomes whiny and refuses to eat. Typical appearance sick person: puffy face, red, watery eyes. The patient is bothered by a runny nose and dry cough. The temperature rises to 39-40°C and does not decrease, despite antipyretic measures. On days 1-2 of the disease, small whitish spots appear on the mucous membrane of the cheeks (it is their detection that helps the pediatrician diagnose measles even before a widespread rash appears on the child’s body).

And then, from 4-5 days from the onset of the disease, a gradual spread of the rash is noted: first behind the ears, on the face, neck, over the next day the rash appears on the torso and arms and on the 3rd day appears on the child’s legs. The rash consists of small red spots, they can merge into large spots, between which you can see healthy skin. As the rash spreads, the temperature remains elevated and the cough intensifies. In the first days of the disease, some children develop severe measles pneumonia.

Over the next 3-5 days, with a favorable course, the symptoms of the disease decrease and the temperature drops.

The course of measles and the intensity of rashes in different children, depending on individual characteristics immune system changes from mild to severe, life-threatening forms.

It should be said that the measles virus significantly weakens the immune system and this, along with damage to the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and digestive tract, creates conditions for joining bacterial infection. The child may develop complications: inflammation of the middle ear ( otitis media), larynx (laryngitis), up to the development of its edema (measles croup), bacterial pneumonia etc. In one child out of 1-2 thousand cases, measles is complicated by brain damage. Complications most often occur in children under 5 years of age.

Preventing measles

The only one in an effective way To protect a child from measles, as well as from many other infectious diseases, is vaccination.

The main place in the prevention of measles is given to active immunization, i.e. introduction of live, highly weakened viruses into the body. It should be noted that the vaccine virus is so weakened that it is not dangerous either for the vaccinated person or for those around him. After grafting, slightly more weak immunity than if the child got sick naturally, but it is enough to reliably protect your child from this disease for life.

If your unvaccinated child, who is over 6 months old, comes into contact with someone who has measles, you can protect him by giving him a live measles vaccine within the next 2-3 days.

For very young children (3 to 6 months of age and older, if there are contraindications to live measles vaccine) as emergency prevention normal human immunoglobulin is used (a preparation containing protective antibodies obtained from the serum of people who have had measles or donors). Such immunization is passive; antibodies introduced from outside circulate in the child’s blood for no longer than 2-3 months, after which active immunization can be carried out.

Measles vaccination rules

Vaccination against measles is carried out twice: the first - at the age of 12-15 months, the second - at 6 years, before school. Using a second dose of the vaccine helps protect those children who have not been vaccinated previously, as well as those who have not developed sufficiently stable immunity after the first dose. For reference: vaccination against measles in countries with high incidence is carried out at the age of 9 and even 6 months in order to protect infants in whom the disease is particularly severe.

The timing of vaccination against measles coincides with vaccination against rubella and mumps. The coincidence in time of three vaccinations at once should not confuse you: the immune system children from a very early age successfully repels the collective attacks of a much larger number of microorganisms. The likelihood of adverse reactions does not increase when these vaccines are combined.

Below are vaccines containing measles component and registered in Russia.

Single vaccines (measles component only):

1. Dry measles vaccine (Russia).
2. Ruvax (Aventis Pasteur, France).

Combined vaccines:

1. Mumps-measles vaccine (Russia).
2. MMR II (measles, rubella, mumps) (Merck Sharp & Dohme, USA).
3. Priorix (measles, rubella, mumps) (Smithkline Beecham Biologicals, UK).

Despite the fact that the composition of the vaccines is different, they all demonstrated good level immunogenicity (i.e. the ability to form immunity) and tolerability. The differences relate mainly to two aspects. First: imported drugs prepared on embryos chicken eggs and for this reason are contraindicated for those who have had a strong reaction to chicken egg whites. Russian vaccines do not have this drawback, since they are prepared on Japanese quail embryos. True, in fairness it should be noted that strong allergic reactions to chicken egg whites are extremely rare.

And second: imported drugs are produced in the most convenient combined form and protect against three diseases at once: measles, mumps (mumps) and rubella. And the combined form means fewer ballast substances, fewer injections (and therefore stress for the child), and finally, fewer visits to the doctor. At the district clinic, you will most likely be given an injection only with the domestic mono-vaccine against measles. True, a domestic combined vaccine against measles and mumps has been developed and has already begun to be used (although not everywhere).

In the vast majority of cases, combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccines can only be purchased at pharmacies or commercial vaccination centers.

According to the instructions for the Russian monovaccine, the measles vaccine is injected subcutaneously under the shoulder blade or into the shoulder area (at the border of the lower and middle third of the shoulder from the outside). Imported vaccines, again according to the instructions, are administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly (the specific injection site is determined by the doctor). When several monovaccines are used simultaneously, they are administered with separate syringes into the different areas body, and combined vaccines are collected in one syringe.

You have the legal right to choose which vaccines your child will receive, but you will have to pay to purchase vaccines not purchased by the Ministry of Health. You can also go to one of the many vaccination centers where you can choose from several vaccines. If the vaccination is not carried out in your clinic, do not forget to take a certificate of its implementation so that the local pediatrician enters information about it in the outpatient card child at his place of residence. This will save you from unnecessary questions in the future, for example, when your child enters kindergarten or school.

General rules for parents to follow for any vaccination:

Knowing in advance about the timing of vaccination, try to avoid contact with infections; before vaccination, do not expose the child’s body to unnecessary stress (hypothermia, excessive solar radiation, change of climatic and time zones), since any stress changes the reactivity of the immune system.

Contraindications for vaccination Severe reactions or complications to a previous dose of vaccine. Severe allergic reactions to the use of aminoglycosides (all measles vaccines do not contain a large number of one of the antibiotics from this group). Severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock) to bird eggs. Any acute illness or exacerbation chronic disease. Let us emphasize that in this case we're talking about about postponing the vaccination date, and not about refusing it. However, in some cases (contact with a person with measles), the vaccine can be given to children with light forms respiratory infections (runny nose, redness of the pharynx) and convalescents even in the presence of low-grade fever (up to 37.5 ° C). Primary or secondary immunodeficiency; condition after infectious diseases, expression of suppressive immunity (influenza, Infectious mononucleosis), within 3-4 weeks. Patients receiving treatment with drugs that weaken the immune system. Administration of blood products (whole blood, plasma, immunoglobulin) during the last 8 weeks before the intended vaccination. Some cancers.

Child's health after vaccination

The measles vaccine rarely causes adverse reactions, and complications in vaccinated people are also very rare.

A small proportion of vaccinated people may have weak adverse reactions in the form of an increase in temperature to 38°C, sometimes there is conjunctivitis and a mild rash. The listed symptoms are possible in the period from 5-6 to 12-18 (in different sources are given different periods) day; they last for 2-3 days. This is the natural course of the vaccination process.

The following complications are possible after vaccination:

• Allergic reactions varying degrees expressiveness. If there is a possibility of their development, the child should be given 10-12 days before vaccination and within the same time after it. antihistamine V age dosage given in the annotation for a specific medicine.
• Convulsions against the background of increased temperature in children predisposed to them. Your doctor may prescribe paracetamol to prevent them.
• Damage to the central nervous system, its probability is very low (1 in a million cases of vaccination).

It can be added that complications that develop after vaccination occur in a much milder form than after natural measles.

Measles vaccination and pregnancy

Measles is dangerous for pregnant women - in 20% of cases, measles during pregnancy is complicated by termination of pregnancy and fetal malformations. Because the measles vaccine contains live viruses, pregnancy is a contraindication for vaccination.

Let us remind you that contact with a child who exhibits symptoms of measles infection after vaccination is safe for others, including pregnant women.

A few words in conclusion

At the beginning of the article, a terrible figure was given - 900 thousand children dying from measles every year. As incredible as it may seem, only 100 (!) cases of measles were reported in the United States over the entire past year. In this country, measles is on the verge of complete eradication. And this success was achieved solely thanks to widespread vaccination. Let us also take care of our children.

Mikhail Kostinov, head of the immunoprophylaxis center at the Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums named after. I. I. Mechnikova, Doctor of Medical Sciences

Discussion

Hello young mothers, I am from the city of Irkutsk, May my daughter is 6 years old, we have never been vaccinated, then the doctor said that we need to get vaccinated against measles, we got it, and what should we do? She turned red and inside like a purulent lump, a week has passed and it does not go away, what should I do in this situation?

09.21.2018 19:51:28, Sakha

Tanya, The timing of a child’s standard vaccination may coincide with the moment when parents first notice his autistic symptoms. Concerns about the role of vaccines have led to lower immunization rates in some countries, increasing the risk of measles outbreaks. At the same time, in the overwhelming majority scientific research no connection found between the MMR vaccine and autism, and no convincing scientific evidence the effects of thimerosal added to vaccines on the risk of autism.

06/23/2014 07:40:32, TatyanaR

We became silent after the vaccination and now we have dysarthria and OHP!! level. And now doctors are again insisting on another vaccination.

10/26/2012 09:59:34, MartaL

My child was vaccinated against measles when he was 6 years old. the nurse did not enter vaccination information into the child’s vaccination record. At school, without warning parents, at the age of 7, the child is re-vaccinated against measles and TAD. What are the dangers of such a layering of vaccinations? Should they be punished? medical workers for such negligence?

02.11.2008 20:34:58, Galina

In the USA, different states have different approaches to vaccinations. in some, the child will not be accepted to school without vaccinations, in some, you can sign a statement that you are aware that the child may get sick.
a simple parental dilemma: knowingly putting a child at risk of autism or other complications from vaccination, or exposing the child to the risk of infection. Unfortunately, there is no cure for autism, but measles (if you live in a civilized country) will be treated.
As for Austria, ask yourself: why doesn’t the doctor consider it necessary to vaccinate? Doctor-controlled measles may be safer for your child than the uncontrolled effects of the vaccine.

08/22/2008 05:24:04, Maria

My eldest son (15 years old) was vaccinated against measles at one time and we have no health problems. Thanks to our doctors! Now I have a daughter who is 21 months old. Today I read an article that a measles epidemic has appeared in Austria, and we now live in Austria. I looked at my child’s vaccination card and it turned out that she did not have a measles vaccination. I called the doctor, and she told me that this vaccination is optional. I'm shocked! She demanded that my child be vaccinated against measles, citing the fact that there is now an epidemic in Salzburg and Upper Austria. She agreed with great reluctance. I have to pay for everything and buy the vaccine myself. But here in Ukraine, this was done free of charge and parents didn’t even bother; the doctors themselves monitored the health of their charges. Free medicine in our country was much better than their (Western) very expensive one. And our doctors have great knowledge and experience.

04.11.2007 23:24:58, Sonya

Measles vaccination can also cause complications in the testicles!!! Therefore, the risk remains in any case!!! We need to toughen up children, and not inject them with all sorts of dirty tricks (IMHO)!

15.10.2007 14:21:52, dzadza

The article is very capacious. But I myself am now faced with the problem of complications after vaccination. To my Georgy, this moment 1 year and 3 days. He received ours 4 days ago domestic vaccination and he still has a rash. But not a single doctor diagnosed us with “Complications after vaccination.” I myself draw conclusions in favor of this diagnosis. We are treated for a sore throat (when there was a fever) for diathesis (when a rash appeared). SO IS THIS THE STUPIDITY OF OUR DOCTORS OR THEIR INDIFFERENCE? Now, thanks to your article, I am sure of the correctness of my diagnosis.

04/14/2007 16:11:35, Svktlana

Wow, what an old article came out :) How nice it is to read so many smart people at the conference - where are they all now? Just degradation...

mamaroma, where did you get the information that “mumps is the cause” male infertility, another myth"??? Are you a doctor? Mumps in males tends to cause complications in the testicles, and at an older age the risk of complications increases. There may or may not be a complication, you never know 100%. So why take the risk? If your My husband was lucky, mumps went away without complications, then why put other children at risk with your statements? If, God forbid, someone develops these complications, you will not take responsibility... There is no need for unfounded statements.

02/03/2007 14:09:29, Traum

It’s strange to read about the “terrible” disease rubella and mumps. Completely unnecessary vaccinations. The fact that mumps is the cause of male infertility is another myth! I personally know men (my husband is one of them) who have had mumps and have wonderful children. Measles is indeed dangerous disease, but its consequences can be no less dangerous! Don't wait for advice from your local doctor! They write correctly above, in order to survive in our country, you need to think and make decisions yourself! Sincerely,

Since the measles vaccine was invented back in 1963, this disease has gradually moved from the category of deadly and “universally” common to the category of well-controlled and relatively rare. Therefore, as a rule, everything a modern parent needs to know about measles in children comes down to information about correct and timely vaccination.

Since the early 1990s, there has been no country on earth where measles vaccination is not included in the mandatory calendar vaccination of children. This sharply reduced cases of measles, but did not eradicate them completely.

Measles vaccination: children vaccinated means protected

The measles virus, like smallpox, can only exist in human body and be transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one. Just as at one time smallpox, thanks to total vaccination, disappeared from the face of the earth, measles could disappear in our days. However, this requires that everyone and everything be vaccinated against measles for about ten years.

But, alas, the picture today is far from ideal: due to the fact that in underdeveloped countries, for economic reasons, there is sometimes not enough funding to vaccinate children, and in civilized countries some parents themselves deliberately refuse to vaccinate their children, cases of measles occur constantly , everywhere and annually claiming about 200,000 children's lives.

For parents, this statistics is especially useful because it clearly illustrates the level of risk when refusing vaccination against measles: this disease is not a “banal” infection that is easily treated and well tolerated, but a rather serious and dangerous disease from which a child can die.

Actually, it is precisely with the massive parental refusal of vaccinations these days that the fact is connected that many childhood diseases, considered long ago “defeated” and practically forgotten, have begun to return to our reality. Among them is measles.

Before the introduction of measles vaccinations, this disease affected absolutely everyone - in fact, there was not a single person who did not have measles in childhood. Alas, measles was a childhood disease with one of the most high levels mortality.

Nowadays, the most effective and efficient measure against measles is... vaccination!

In America, among farmers whose families traditionally had many children, at one time there was even a popular saying: “Don’t tell anyone how many children you have until they all have measles.”

Measles, rubella, mumps: vaccination “seven troubles - one answer”

How to vaccinate against measles in children

As a rule, the vaccine is given to a child at the age of 1 year. combined vaccine MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), and after 6 years revaccination is carried out. This is enough to reliably protect a child from measles, or at least from a severe course of the disease and from all potentially possible complications. The minimum interval between vaccinations cannot be less than 4 years. Vaccination is subcutaneous injection- usually in the shoulder area or under the shoulder blade.

Is it possible to get sick after vaccination?

Firstly, it should be mentioned that in approximately 10% of cases after measles vaccination, children suffer from so-called vaccine measles. After all, vaccination is carried out using a live (albeit weakened!) virus - accordingly, the manifestation of light form diseases. The main symptoms of vaccine measles are: small rash on the skin and heat. The peculiarity of vaccine measles is that although formally it is considered an infection, it is not contagious and is completely safe for others.

Secondly, very in rare cases A child can actually get measles even if he was vaccinated at one time. But the percentage of these cases is negligible and does not exceed the number of cases when children fell ill with measles twice.

In other words, the risk of getting measles without vaccination is 100%, and the risk of getting measles with vaccination is 100%, as is the risk of getting sick again after past illness- identical and extremely small (less than 0.5%). At the same time, both vaccinated children and those children who manage to get measles again never experience a severe form of the disease (not to mention fatal)

Which vaccine is better?

As a rule, all measles vaccines (both domestic and foreign production) contain live attenuated measles viruses, and there is no fundamental difference between them.

Allergy to measles vaccine

Like many flu vaccines, the measles vaccine is made from chicken (or quail) egg protein. In this regard, there is a widespread belief among parents that flu and measles vaccines often cause severe allergic reactions.

In fact, after a measles vaccination (given its egg base), the baby may actually experience an allergic reaction. But only if he had previously been observed in contact with egg white the following states:

• Anaphylactic shock (pressure drops sharply and the child loses consciousness);
• Quincke's edema (sharp and severe swelling of the tissues of the face and neck);
• Generalized urticaria ( severe itching and a rash that covers most skin).

In these cases, standard measles vaccines are not suitable for the child. Every mother can independently check whether the classic measles vaccination is dangerous for a baby or not. To do this you need:

• 1 Break a raw egg and wet your finger in egg white.
• 2 Swipe this finger across inner surface baby's lower lip.
• 3 If the child has potential allergic conditions caused by the consumption of egg whites (including as part of the measles vaccine), then literally within the next five minutes underlip will swell a little (don't be alarmed - no other negative consequences won't happen, and this one the swelling will go away independently within the near future).

If during the “egg test” you notice swelling on the child’s lip, you cannot vaccinate this baby against measles with standard vaccines (based on egg whites). And in this case, the doctor will select a replacement.

Possible complications after measles vaccination

As you know, there are no vaccinations or vaccines that are guaranteed not to cause complications. Any vaccination can (one - in more cases, the other - minimally) give certain complications. But the right approach These potential complications are not at all a refusal to vaccinate, but a cold calculation and an honest comparison: what complications can arise from vaccination and what complications can arise from the disease itself.

Children almost never die from measles itself - it is a fairly mild infection when considered in isolation. However, measles provokes the occurrence of some very serious complications, which not only in past times, but also in our days sometimes lead to the death of a child.

The most common complications of measles include:

• Pneumonia (pneumonia) - occurs in a ratio of 1:20;
• The so-called measles encephalitis (irreversible brain damage, encephalomyelitis) - occurs in a ratio of 1:500;
• Pathological decrease in platelet levels (thrombocytopenia) - occurs in a ratio of 1:300;
• Severe ear infections - occur in a ratio of 1:10;

The mortality rate of measles in unvaccinated children today is 1:700

To be fair, let us present statistics on complications from measles vaccination. As a rule, there can be only two such complications:

• Thrombocytopenia - as a complication of measles vaccination, it occurs on average in one case out of 40,000;
• Encephalopathy - after measles vaccination occurs no more often than in one case per 100,000.

Thus, a clear comparative arithmetic is obtained: the measles vaccination gives complications on average in one case out of 40,000. Measles causes one or another complication (which sometimes cripples and even kills the child) in one case out of four.

Symptoms of measles in a child and methods of its treatment

If a child is not vaccinated against measles, then with a 100% probability he will become infected with it sooner or later. Because measles is one of the so-called volatile infections (there are only three of them: measles, rubella and chickenpox). This means that in order to “catch” measles, it is not at all necessary to kiss a sick relative or friend - it is enough to simply live in the same building as someone who is currently sick with measles. Go to the same school or kindergarten, use the same tram or the same bakery, etc. In other words, a child can become infected with measles anywhere without being vaccinated against it. What should parents who are anti-vaxxers expect? By what symptoms can they recognize measles in their children?

The measles virus enters the body healthy person directly from the patient and attaches either to the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract or to the conjunctiva, and after a few days begins to actively multiply in the lymph nodes. Most frequent symptoms measles:

• Temperature increase;
• Enlarged lymph nodes;
• Conjunctivitis;
• Runny nose and cough;
• Enanthema - tiny reddish spots in the form of cereals, which are localized on the mucous membrane of the cheeks and gums (as a rule, these spots appear no 2-3 days before the appearance of a rash on the skin);
• Excessive rashes on the skin.

Severe hives that cover most of the child's body are one of the most painful symptoms of measles in children.

Measles itself (like, for example, and) cannot be treated in any way - you need to get over it, allowing the immune system to develop a natural defense. Therefore, treatment of measles is only symptomatic. For example:

• If the temperature has increased, an antipyretic should be given;
• Signs of dehydration appear - it is necessary to give the child plenty of water;
• If photophobia occurs (it is characteristic of measles when the conjunctiva is infected) - the baby should be placed in a darkened room;
• Etc.

In addition, when children have measles, they are usually prescribed a course of vitamin A (which, as we already mentioned, prevents some of the development of severe forms illnesses and complications). However, you cannot prescribe vitamin A on your own - the doctor must calculate the dosage based on physiological characteristics child. And moreover, the process of treatment for measles, due to the huge risk of developing severe complications, must necessarily take place under the supervision of medical workers.

As you know, no better treatment diseases rather than prevention. In the case of measles in children, the best and truly effective prevention There is only one - timely measles vaccination. Moreover, there are ten times more arguments in its favor than against its use. And yet, whether to vaccinate a child with measles or to consciously refuse it is still a matter of choice for the parents themselves.

Hello, dear parents. In this article we will talk about vaccinating children against measles. You will learn what the vaccine is, where and when it is administered, how many times during childhood your baby will have to undergo vaccination against measles.

Measles, what is it

Is serious infectious disease, which is spreading quite quickly.

This disease is characterized by the following features:

What kind of measles vaccine?

You need to know that the measles vaccine contains weakened live viruses, and that measles vaccination provides immunity for an average of 20 years.

The vaccine aimed at preventing measles infection is a powder dried in a special way, which is called lyophilisate. It is diluted before injection.

1. It is important to store this vaccine in a cold room or frozen state. This applies only to the powder itself, but not to the solvent.
2. You need to understand that the dissolved vaccine must be used immediately. In an hour it will lose its properties by 50%. The more time passes, the less effective it will become (this is subject to a temperature of 20 degrees). If the room temperature is 37, the vaccine will completely lose its properties within the first hour.
3. The vaccine becomes ineffective if exposed to direct sunlight.
4. After dissolving the powder, this vaccine can be stored in the refrigerator, but no longer than six hours.
5. If residues are observed, they must be destroyed.

Today, measles is still very common, should you get vaccinated against this disease? You must understand that vaccination is necessary to prevent the outbreak of epidemics, reduce the mortality rate and limit the circulation of a specific virus among the population of the city and the country as a whole. This vaccine has low reactogenicity and practically does not give side effects, so I still recommend vaccination rather than exposing the baby to the risk of contracting such a serious infectious disease.

Some viral diseases Children are more likely to get sick, after which lifelong immunity to the infection is developed. Today, people are vaccinated against measles, rubella, mumps and other diseases, which will help preserve health from serious complications.

What is it for?

Vaccination allows you to avoid infection from a patient infected with the virus by developing immunity in the body of the vaccinated person. The drug contains complex components in combination with live weakened viruses, which form antibodies to measles. Vaccination not only prevents epidemics of the spread of the virus, but also reduces the likelihood of complications, mortality, and less often leads to disability.

It is especially important for women who are planning to conceive a child, but have never had measles and have not been vaccinated against it. After all, an infection during pregnancy will negatively affect the child and the woman, and vaccination after conception is contraindicated.

It is important to vaccinate your baby against measles in time: in the first 5 years of life, the course of the infection is complicated by aggravated symptoms and complications that can lead to fatal for a fragile body.

Some parents believe that instead of being vaccinated against rubella, measles or chickenpox, it is better to get sick with these diseases in preschool age. But sick viral infection can infect unvaccinated children and adults, women during pregnancy, while after vaccination it does not pose any danger to society.

You also need to understand that in 80% of cases of measles, the patient acquires complications: pneumonia, laryngitis, otitis media, bronchitis and tracheitis. Emergency vaccination is essential if an unvaccinated adult or child has been in contact with a measles-infected patient. But such a vaccination is not given during pregnancy.

When is the first vaccination needed?

A newborn baby already has antibodies to measles, which he received from his mother, so it is not advisable to get vaccinated before 9 months. This is also confirmed by the fact that until the age of six months, the baby’s immunity is not yet fully formed and is ready to adequately respond to the introduced virus. At 9 months, in disadvantaged regions they are already vaccinated, but there remains a risk of undeveloped immunity to measles in 15% of children.

One hundred percent development of the body's defense against infection is obtained only after immunization at 1 year - this is the age for the first vaccination. If an unfavorable epidemiological situation develops in the region, vaccination is initially given at 9 months, then re-vaccination is carried out after 3-9 months.

What vaccines are there?

There are two types of vaccines: mono and combined. The former contains only the anti-measles component, the latter have variations in the direction of action against:

• measles, rubella;
• measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox;
• measles, mumps, rubella.

Domestic and foreign vaccines are used for vaccination. Their action is equally effective in terms of immunogenicity. Domestic manufacturers currently widely produce only single-component vaccines. Foreign drugs combine several viruses and a smaller number of ballast components. Reviews of drugs from various manufacturers are equally positive.

One more distinctive feature is the composition of the vaccines: foreign ones are produced on the basis of chicken egg embryos, and domestic ones are based on Japanese quails. All immunomodulatory drugs for measles are interchangeable.

How to prepare?

To minimize possible reactions and complications, you must adhere to the following rules:

• avoid stress,
• do not appear in places with large and dense crowds of people,
• do not change time and climate zones,
• do not get too cold, do not stay under the scorching sun for a long time,
• delay vaccination if your health condition worsens.

How many times should you be vaccinated?

Immunization against measles coincides in time with vaccinations against rubella, so for the sake of convenience, they can be combined using multicomponent drugs.

To form stable immunity to measles and prevent complications of the disease, more than one vaccination is necessary. Children are vaccinated for the first time at 9-12 months. (depending on the epidemiological situation in the region and the presence of immunity to measles in the mother). The next immunization is required before the child enters school (6-7 years old).

Next, boys and girls are vaccinated only at the age of 16 (plus or minus a year) to strengthen the body’s resistance to viruses. Term active action This vaccination is valid for the next 20 years, so the last vaccination should be no later than 35 years. Until this age, according to the law, immunization is done at the expense of the budget. Measles vaccination for older adults is available for a fee.

Additional emergency vaccinations may be required when a person has been exposed to someone with measles. But this does not apply to women during pregnancy. Therefore, how many vaccines will have to be given over a lifetime depends only on the individual person and his immunity.

Where is the vaccine administered?

The drug is administered subcutaneously, in rare cases intramuscularly. To determine where to get vaccinated, follow the recommendations specific manufacturer and development of the muscle layer.

The best place to administer the drug is considered outer part shoulder or hip. Less commonly, the vaccine is injected under the shoulder blade. For children one year of age, it is recommended to vaccinate in the thigh, since at this age the muscles on the shoulder are not yet sufficiently developed.

If several single-component vaccinations are given at once, they are distributed over different parts of the body, permitted by each specific manufacturer.

Where not to vaccinate:

1. Into the skin, as there is a high risk of developing compaction and slow penetration of the drug components into the blood.
2. In the buttock, if the fat layer is well developed there.

Body reaction

The vaccination is aimed at the body’s reaction, which will subsequently form lasting immunity to viral infection. Therefore, such vaccination is extremely rare without leaving a trace. The first symptoms of the body’s response to the vaccine will be:

• pain at the injection site;
• low temperature;
• sealing the vaccine injection site.

Such manifestations appear in the first 24 hours after immunization and also disappear the next day. The following body response to the introduced virus is observed on days 5-17:

1. The temperature rises; in rare cases, a febrile state can be observed for up to 4 days with an increase in body temperature up to 40 ° C. In such cases, it is recommended to take ibuprofen to alleviate the condition.
2. The previous reaction can cause short-term convulsions, most often observed in children. The cramps go away on their own, but you can take paracetamol for relief.
3. Mild rash (especially after complex vaccination from measles/rubella). She goes through on her own specific treatment does not require.

Possible complications

Sometimes complications of various types are observed during immunization. However, it is worth understanding that they are much easier than if a person had a natural viral infection. The vaccine may cause the following complications:

• pneumonia, which is possible due to decreased immunity of the airways;
• allergic reactions: they are more often observed to antibiotics or protein embryos contained in the vaccine. If the vaccine recipient is prone to allergies, he is prescribed a course of antihistamines before immediate immunization;
• encephalitis, such a complication occurs in less than 0.000001% of cases of all vaccinated people,
• thrombocytopenia, which is a physiological reaction of the blood to the incoming virus. Does not require treatment, passes quickly and does not harm health,
• toxic shock was observed only in isolated cases after exposure to staphylococci in the vaccine.

Contraindications

Not all groups of the population can be vaccinated against measles, rubella and chickenpox. Some must temporarily wait out an unfavorable time for immunization (when vaccination is contraindicated), while others should not be administered at all similar drugs. There are short-term and life-long contraindications. First group:

• during pregnancy;
• administration of immunoglobulin or other blood products;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases, other diseases;
• tuberculosis.

If immunization is contraindicated during pregnancy, you can get vaccinated after childbirth.

Permanent contraindications are introduced in the following situations:

• oncology;
• severely tolerated previous vaccinations;
• allergy to quail or chicken egg whites or aminoglycosides (antibiotics such as Gentamicin and Neomycin).

If the vaccine is contraindicated, then the effect of its administration may be the opposite of the desired one.

Vaccination during pregnancy

When carrying a child, the expectant mother’s body is weakened and is not able to fully resist even the weakened viruses found in vaccines. Therefore, any vaccination against measles, rubella or other infections is contraindicated and can have a serious impact on both the mother’s condition and the health of the unformed fetus.

However, you need to understand that if a woman becomes infected with measles during a short period of pregnancy, she is faced with the question of an induced abortion. If the expectant mother still has an infection, then there is a high probability of giving birth to a baby with developmental pathologies.

Emergency preventive measures

If you suspect possible contact with a person with measles, you need to be vaccinated against the virus within 3 days. For women during pregnancy, immunoglobulin is used for the same purposes (the regular vaccine is contraindicated). Such measures are valid for rubella or chickenpox. Reviews from patients vaccinated in this way are mostly positive.

You should always take care of your health in advance so as not to acquire it after an illness (measles or rubella) severe complications. During pregnancy, unvaccinated women need to be in crowds less often and take better care of themselves than usual.