Study shows how long jab protects as under-10s fall ill with measles. More than 95% of people who have had two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR vaccine) – which was introduced in 1988 – are protected for life

A vaccine that protects against measles has been shown to wane very slowly over time but still remains highly effective against the contagious disease, scientists have said. More than 95% of people who have had two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR vaccine) – which was introduced in 1988 – are protected for life, findings published in the journal The Lancet Public Health show.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) suggests a vast majority of measles cases in England are in unvaccinated children and young people, there has been also been an unexplained rise in infections among those who are double-vaccinated. A modelling study led by The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) suggests that the effectiveness of the MMR jab can very gradually decrease over time, by 0.04% each year after the second dose.

[https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(24)00181-6/fulltext](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(24)00181-6/fulltext)