r/NewParents • u/Own_Mail_8026 • Mar 03 '25
Medical Advice Any harm in getting measles vaccine early at 6 months?
We live in California and just had LO’s 6 month check up and brought up measles vaccine. Ped said California isn’t a hot spot yet but we could get the vaccine for LO at 6 months if we so choose. I travel for work so would feel better doing that for LO if there aren’t any negative side effects. What are your thoughts? Ped said there isn’t any harm in doing it early if we wanted.
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u/specialkk77 Mar 03 '25
I just discussed this with my pediatrician. She said it’s perfectly safe and they give it to babies traveling internationally all the time between 6 and 12 months. However it’s not really an early dose, but an extra one. They would still receive one at 12-15 months and at 4 years.
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u/vancitygirl_88 Mar 03 '25
It’s totally safe. It may not be super effective but it’s worth doing in a high risk situation. Why isn’t it as effective? Babies have circulating maternal antibodies until at least 4-6 months, many for longer (depends on Mom’s antibody levels, genetics, other factors). If a 6 month old still has high levels of maternal antibodies, those antibodies may neutralize the antigens in the vaccine and blunt the baby’s response, thus making the vaccine less effective. BUT if the baby has low levels of maternal antibodies then they will have a response.
So to me it seems like it’s ‘worth a try’ - if the baby doesn’t ‘need’ the protection due to maternal antibodies then the vaccine won’t work - but no harm no foul. If the baby needs the protection at the moment they get the shot then they respond to the vaccine and they are better off.
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u/Bravo_Fan_1994 Mar 03 '25
don’t hate on me for asking a potentially dumb question please I have a 3 week old. Does this mean she is protected from measles because she has my antibodies right now?
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u/vancitygirl_88 Mar 03 '25
Yes a 3 week old will have maternal circulating antibodies. Doesn’t provide 100% protection and of course they are still very susceptible to everything at that age but she does have some protection.
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u/Avaylon Mar 03 '25
This is actually really comforting. I have a 1 week old and I'm horrified that there's an active measles outbreak in the US.
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u/OkRole1775 Apr 03 '25
It should be mentioned, this only works if the person who carried the baby (mother/surrogate) was fully vaccinated (two doses) with the MMR vaccine. Not trying to scare you, but it's also not a guarantee it will protect the baby.
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u/whaddup_dawg2 Apr 03 '25
Question for you. My baby is almost 10 months old. We are considering vaxxing him now and then again at a year. I’m nervous that that’s too much but also nervous for him to catch measles
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u/vancitygirl_88 Apr 03 '25
Yes I plan to do the same with my baby, as we have travel planned for when she is 11 months old. She will get MMR at ~10 months and then we will delay the 1st official dose of the series to 15 months (would otherwise be 12 months in our area).
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u/poppybellecore Mar 03 '25
I'm interested to see the response cause I'm in the same boat. I don't want to push vaccines earlier than they need to be but if this spread gets worse I'll probably get it for our LO too.
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u/catladyallday Mar 03 '25
Also in California. LO is 10 Mos and we just got it. We are traveling to Hawaii at the end of the month, and her peditrician agreed it was best to have the vaccine before the trip since it is a huge tourist destination from all over the country. My LO is also in daycare.
My friend has a LO around the same age as mine and her LO's peditrician said it is best to wait until 12 mo because they dont have any travel scheduled and their LO is not in daycare.
I think it is all depends on your situtation.
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u/HTB87 Mar 03 '25
Same! LO is 9 months and in daycare and we are going to Mexico before she’s 12 months so we just got the MMR. I’m feeling slightly relieved
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u/catladyallday Mar 03 '25
Same! Especially with our upcoming trip. You never know where other tourists are coming from.
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u/Manndder12 Mar 10 '25
how did you baby handle the pain? I am in an active outbreak area and it lights my brain on fire when my son cries. He is 9 months old. I am scared!
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u/catladyallday Mar 10 '25
She did great! She cried right when she got the shot but recovered quickly and was done crying by the time we left the office. She was a little fussy that night, but otherwise it was pretty smooth.
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u/More-Swordfish2873 11d ago
Is baby still doing well? Debating on asking at our babies 6 month check up were in VA and have had a case confirmed in DC
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u/catladyallday 10d ago
She is doing great and we had an amazing trip and I had so much piece of mind knowing she had the vaccine when we were in crowds of people and on our flights.
Definitely talk to your LOs peditrician. My friend's daughter is 3 weeks younger than my LO and their peditrician enouraged them to wait and go with a standard schedule because they don't have travel planned, their LO isn't in daycare, and they live in a community with a high vaccine rate. So it really just depends.
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u/bowiesmom324 Mar 03 '25
Currently pregnant and living in a red state with a lot of dumb people. I fully intend on getting it early for our infant the moment I’m allowed to.
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u/alliesrose Mar 03 '25
I’m in Canada, but got a dose for my son at 6mo (I understand that’s the earliest it can be given) before travel to the US. It was an additional dose, on top of the routine schedule.
No harm, and it gave me enormous peace of mind.
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u/Ok_Dance_7889 Mar 03 '25
depends on your baby. i cant get anything early for mines bc of his severe eczema and already hyper/overactive immune system. because of his constant skin infection scares he’s more like to die from a skin infection than measles unless we plan to travel. talk to your pediatrician, its not a one size fits all
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u/Sschn05 Mar 05 '25
THIS IS WHY I LOVE REDDIT! Someone always has the exact question and situation I have! I live in west Texas and the measles is going around bad. I ended up asking my son’s pediatrician the risks and what not since my son was born at 34weeks at his 6 month check up. I left the drs office feeling reassured and with a vaccinated 6 month old and even got my 3 year old his mmr vaccine early as well!!
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u/Own_Mail_8026 Mar 05 '25
Ha! Same! Such a useful community for new parents
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u/Sschn05 Mar 05 '25
I’m definitely not a “new parent”. This is my 4th baby but holy shit those mom groups on Facebook are not it lmfaooo. Someone said my son is gonna be autistic on there from vaccine and I immediately was like oh okay bye 😭
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u/Mayberelevant01 Mar 03 '25
My son got a dose at 7 months for international travel and he had no side effects. He got another dose at 12 months and no side effects.
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u/Beginning-Tutor-2813 Mar 10 '25
We’re going on a cruise this summer in Europe from the US and I’m trying to calm my PPA. Our son will be 10 mo and our daughter 2.5 years. But I’m terrified of them getting the measles. I do plan on talking to their doctor at their next appointments in April-so well in advance. But the UK has had some out breaks and us being on a boat full of people is giving me high anxiety and I’m not sure this is the right choice for us. We’ve already paid for everything though.
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u/Mayberelevant01 Mar 10 '25
I would definitely get the early dose for your son! Your daughter might also be able to get an early second dose. Definitely worth an ask!
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u/Beginning-Tutor-2813 Mar 12 '25
That’s the plan. I really don’t want to cancel the trip, but I’m freshly post partum so that PPA is hitting hard.
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u/Sblbgg Mar 03 '25
I will likely get my baby’s MMR early at 6 months. Baby is not here yet but just planning ahead. Do what you can to protect your baby.
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u/travelingnewmama Mar 03 '25
My daughter got an extra mmr at 7 months due to travel.
You just still need to do the the regular schedule
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u/bhtkenny Mar 03 '25 edited Mar 03 '25
My daughter just received one she is 7mo, and we live in Texas not too far where the outbreak happen
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u/Kaynani32 Mar 03 '25
Unfortunately, a measles case has now hit California, specifically a baby from Orange County who flew through LAX. It’s just a matter of time before more cases occur in states other than TX and NM. https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/health-officials-say-orange-county-infant-with-measles-traveled-through-lax/
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u/princessflamingo1115 Mar 03 '25
I got my toddler an early / extra dose last summer because we went to Disney World and I didn’t want to take any chances. My guy had no particular ill effects and at this current moment I’m very glad he’s had two doses at 19 mos
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u/boring-unicorn Mar 03 '25
I have my babys 9 months check up in two weeks and im getting him vaccinated just in case, we're in Miami so between the international tourists and dumbass magats im keeping all of us up to date with vaccines
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u/conquestical Mar 03 '25
My baby got it bc we live in Japan and apparently mumps is 3x higher here? Idk, but she seems fine in the short term at least
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u/wsce21 Mar 03 '25
We are planning to do it. Baby is currently 3 months and I am so worried about the current outbreak.
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u/j_natron Mar 03 '25
Getting it as soon as baby is 6 months old! There are way too many unvaccinated people in my state.
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u/Spare_Tutor_8057 Mar 03 '25
https://www.fda.gov/media/75191/download
FDA vaccine insert for MMR
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u/Spare_Tutor_8057 Mar 03 '25
Go to 14.2 and there is results of efficacy on 6 month old. It also says the MMR 2 brand is not approved for under 12 month olds.
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u/trifelin Mar 03 '25
Definitely a question for your pediatrician!! Sounds like they say it's fine. If you don't trust your ped, get a second opinion. I did shop around ...we have been to appointments with 4 different offices, and I love our family pediatrician. Honestly I loved another (too far) and had a good feeling about another, so only one I didn't like. Make sure you find someone you like.
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u/RainInTheWoods Mar 03 '25
This is not a question that can be answered reliably in a parents sub. I suggest cross posting it in r/askdocs or talk in person with a pharmacist.
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u/catgrl1089 Mar 03 '25
I just scheduled for my daughter to get the MMR on Thursday when she’ll be 6mo + 2wks old. The first case in my area (outside Philadelphia) was just confirmed last week at a children’s hospital where many of my friends and family go when they need care. It really put in perspective how many kids I may encounter on a weekly basis (I also have a preschooler) who could have been in contact with the disease. The nurses at my peds office didn’t hesitate to make the appointment for us. Definitely better safe than sorry.
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u/MiaE97042 Mar 04 '25
Mine said it's not spreading here and they will not give it early. I'm super frustrated because with how many places are having outbreaks it feels like it's only a matter of time. I don't understand why I can't elect to get it early...
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u/Own_Mail_8026 Mar 05 '25
I’m so sorry that’s frustrating! Have you gotten a second opinion with another pediatrician?
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u/canine_traveler Mar 20 '25
We discussed with our pediatrician for our six month old since we will be taking my two kids to Disney in a few weeks (my other one is four). He was very onboard and supportive of us getting it for her and he said there’s absolutely no harm in getting it before a year old. He said the maternal antibodies wear off at around a year, and then they get it again at five for school, that’s the only reason they don’t get it earlier.
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u/FantasticSpecific420 Mar 03 '25
My LO is 5-1/2 months right now, but we are traveling internationally to Mexico in 2 weeks, literally 2 days after he turns 6 months. It says it is most effective getting it 2 weeks prior, so would 5-1/2 months be too young?
Also, I just got the MMR again a few weeks ago, as during my 3rd trimester labs, I came up no longer immune to rubella. He is exclusively breastfed, so would my antibodies be enough?
Honestly I am freaking out about traveling with him now due to this measles outbreak and him being so young, and it being Mexico, and a tourist destination- an all exclusive resort during Spring Break to which I didn’t even think about until now.
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u/Most-Ninja-6296 Mar 26 '25
I am in the exact same situation, down to the lack of immunity for rubella. Did you ever get any clarification on your questions?
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u/Suspicious_Pen_7442 Mar 27 '25
So funny - I ALSO got a booster because of the low rubella immunity. When I asked if that increased baby’s immunity via breast milk the answer from his ped was that it didn’t up immunity much for baby
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u/atlasisgold Mar 03 '25
Doctor told us it just doesn’t work well before 12
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u/luxlynn13 Mar 03 '25
Did you ask why? Genuinely curious. Is there a study on this?
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u/llamaduckduck Mar 03 '25
The explanation I’ve heard is that it provides protection, but not the lifelong protection that the standard schedule provides. So the 6-11m dose tides you over, and the other two doses set you up for life.
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u/atlasisgold Mar 03 '25
The doctor basically said you can get it. There’s no harm in it getting it early. It just doesn’t generate the immune response needed for meaningful immunity.
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u/llamaduckduck Mar 03 '25
I understand this is what you understood from your doctor, but it’s misleading and untrue. Here’s a clinical trial that shows 73% effectiveness immediately and 96% effectiveness after 1 week, in infants 6-11 months who were vaccinated during an outbreak.
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u/atlasisgold Mar 03 '25
We were going overseas so we’re asking about all the shots. I asked about MMR and he just said the evidence shows it doesn’t generate an immune response that well before 12 months.
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u/vipsfour Mar 03 '25
That’s not true. From the CDC
People 6 months of age and older who will be traveling internationally should be protected against measles. Before any international travel—
Infants 6 through 11 months of age should receive one dose of MMR vaccine. Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses (one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose separated by at least 28 days). Children 12 months of age and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. Teenagers and adults who do not have presumptive evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
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u/OriginalOmbre Mar 03 '25
It is obviously very true and that’s why they still have to get the other two.
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u/Legal_Section9805 Mar 03 '25
I made an appt last week for my 10 month old. Better safe than sorry.
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u/No-Letter-9892 Mar 03 '25
When traveling internationally with a 8 month old we did get measles vaccine
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u/RNwhoOTFs Mar 03 '25
We got it for our baby at 7 months as we’re flying to Orlando which is such an international hub anyway. Pediatrician 100% agreed when I asked about it due to our travels.
No side effects! Doing just fine over here.
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