Israel Advances Second MMRV Vaccine Dose to 18 Months Amid Deadly Measles Outbreak

In response to a severe measles outbreak that claimed the lives of 17 infants and children, the Israeli Ministry of Health has fundamentally revised the national vaccination schedule. Starting January 1, 2025, toddlers will receive the second dose of the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine at 18 months old, a significant advancement from the previous schedule where the second dose was administered at six years of age.

This decision follows a professional review by the Public Health Division and recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Vaccinations. It aims to increase full vaccination coverage among children and establish stable herd immunity to curb the virus's spread. The outbreak, which began around Passover last year, resulted in over 3,700 confirmed cases, with 90% being infants and children, most of whom were unvaccinated. Additionally, at least 10,000 more cases likely went undiagnosed. Hospitals admitted 1,226 measles patients, some in critical condition, and tragically, 17 children died, most previously healthy and unvaccinated.

Previously, the first MMRV dose was given at one year old through maternal and child health clinics, with the second dose at first grade via school health services. The new schedule will administer both doses at the clinics by 18 months, reducing the vulnerable gap between doses from five years to just six months. To balance vaccination loads, the second dose of the hepatitis A vaccine will be moved to first grade. The Ministry emphasizes that while the first dose provides over 90% protection, the second dose raises immunity to 97%, a critical difference between localized outbreaks and nationwide epidemics.

The Ministry noted that many developed countries have already adopted similar schedules and stressed the urgency of this change to prevent further tragedies. Recent months have seen increased vaccination rates, particularly in the Haredi community, following the outbreak's impact. However, the Ministry urges all parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated. The new vaccination timetable will apply immediately to children born from the start of 2025, with expectations of a significant decline in measles cases in the coming years.