Although the MMR vaccine package insert recommends a 3-month deferral of pregnancy after MMR vaccination, CDC and ACIP recommend deferral of pregnancy for 4 weeks.
ACIP recommends that people capable of bearing children be asked if they are currently pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. Vaccination should be deferred for those who answer “yes.” Those who answer “no” should be advised to avoid pregnancy for 4 weeks following vaccination. Pregnancy testing is not necessary.
No specific action needs to be taken other than to reassure the pregnant person that no adverse outcomes are expected as a result of this vaccination. MMR vaccination during pregnancy is not a reason to terminate the pregnancy. You should consult with others in your healthcare setting to identify ways to prevent such vaccination errors in the future. Detailed information about MMR vaccination in pregnancy is included in the 2013 MMR ACIP statement, available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6204.pdf.
No. ACIP recommends that anyone capable of bearing children be asked if they are currently pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. Vaccination should be deferred for those who answer “yes.” Those who answer “no” should be advised to avoid pregnancy for one month following vaccination.
Yes. Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine viruses are not transmitted from the vaccinated person, so MMR vaccination of a household contact does not pose a risk to a pregnant household member.
In 2013, ACIP updated its recommendation for this situation (see www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6204.pdf, pages 18–20). It is recommended that people capable of bearing children who have received 1 or 2 doses of rubella-containing vaccine and have rubella serum IgG levels that are not clearly positive should be administered 1 additional dose of MMR vaccine (maximum of 3 doses) and do not need to be retested for serologic evidence of rubella immunity. MMR should not be administered to a pregnant person.
ACIP recommends that vaccinated people of childbearing age who have received one or two doses of rubella-containing vaccine and have a rubella serum IgG levels that is not clearly positive should be administered one additional dose of MMR vaccine (maximum of three doses). Repeat serologic testing for evidence of rubella immunity is not recommended. See www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6204.pdf, pages 18–20, for more information on this issue.
MMR vaccines should not be administered to people known to be pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. Because of the theoretical risk to the fetus when the mother receives a live virus vaccine, people capable of bearing children should be counseled to avoid becoming pregnant for 28 days after receipt of MMR vaccine.
MMR can be administered any time after delivery. The vaccine should be administered to a post-partum mother who is susceptible to either measles, mumps, or rubella before hospital discharge, even if the mother has received RhoGam during the hospital stay, leaves in less than 24 hours, or is breastfeeding.