After Measles Outbreaks, Health Ministry Advances Second MMRV Shot to 18 Months

The Health Ministry decided today, Thursday, to update Israel’s routine vaccination schedule and move the second dose of the measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox vaccine (MMRV) from age six to age one and a half. The decision was made after a lengthy professional review, against the backdrop of measles outbreaks recorded over the past year in Israel and around the world.

According to a Health Ministry document recently sent to all health funds, school health service providers, and the municipalities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and obtained by Walla, Israel’s routine vaccination program currently includes two MMRV doses, the first at age one in well-baby clinics and the second in first grade. As noted, a recommendation to advance the second dose to age one and a half was first submitted by the vaccination committee in 2019, but the move was not implemented because of budgetary constraints.

The Health Ministry said that in recent years there has been extensive international experience, and many countries around the world, including European countries, have updated their vaccination schedules and advanced the second dose to a younger age. Following the recent outbreaks, the issue was reviewed again, and the decision was made to adopt the recommendation in Israel as well.

According to the ministry, advancing the vaccine is expected to reduce illness and deaths caused by measles and provide earlier protection for children in their first years of life. The ministry stressed that this is a medically significant step that will strengthen immunity in the population and help prevent future outbreaks. It should be noted that 17 children have died of measles this year.