Mumps postexposure prophylaxis with a third dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, Orange County, New York, USA

Emerg Infect Dis. 2013;19(9):1411-7. doi: 10.3201/eid1909.130299.

Abstract

Although the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is not recommended for mumps postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), data on its effectiveness are limited. During the 2009-2010 mumps outbreak in the northeastern United States, we assessed effectiveness of PEP with a third dose of MMR vaccine among contacts in Orthodox Jewish households who were given a third dose within 5 days of mumps onset in the household's index patient. We compared mumps attack rates between persons who received a third MMR dose during the first incubation period after onset in the index patient and 2-dose vaccinated persons who had not. Twenty-eight (11.7%) of 239 eligible household members received a third MMR dose as PEP. Mumps attack rates were 0% among third-dose recipients versus 5.2% among 2-dose recipients without PEP (p=0.57). Although a third MMR dose administered as PEP did not have a significant effect, it may offer some benefits in specific outbreak contexts.

Keywords: measles-mumps-rubella vaccine; mumps; postexposure prophylaxis; third-dose MMR vaccine intervention; viruses.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / immunology*
  • Mumps / epidemiology
  • Mumps / prevention & control*
  • Mumps virus / chemistry
  • Mumps virus / immunology*
  • New York
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine