MEASLES VACCINE

Type of Vaccine:

Attenuated Measles Virus

Form of Vaccine:

Freeze dried

Minimum Age at 1st Dose:

• 9 months
• 6 months: if there is an epidemic

Number of Doses to Complete the Immunization:

1

Reason:

Measles vaccine given at 9 months provide at least 85% protection against measles infection. When given at one year and older provides 95% protection. Note: (An infant with known or suspected HIV infection should receive measles vaccine at 6 months and then again at 9 months).

Number of Doses per Ampule:

10 ( 10 children )

Dosage:

0.5 ml

Route of Administration:

Subcutaneous

Site of Administration:

Outer part of the upper arm

Storage Temperature:

-15 C to -25 C ( at the freezer ) Note: (But can also be safely stored between 0 C to 8C until its expiry date. Diluents should also be kept cold before using).

Special Precautions:

Birth dose must be given if there is a risk of perinatal transmission. Note: (Combination vaccines should not be given at birth, only monovalent HepB vaccine).

Side Effect:

• Fever that lasts one to two days after injection
• Soreness, children may have pain, redness or swelling at the injection site within 24 hours of immunization. It usually resolve within two to three days.
• About 1 in 20 children develop a mild rash five to 12 days after receiving the vaccine. The rash usually lasts about two days.

Contraindication:

• Severe reaction to previous dose
• Pregnancy
• Congenital or acquired immune disorder

Health Teaching:

• If the child has fever give paracetamol or any appropriate antipyretic at the time and at four and eight hours after immunization.
• Alternating cold compress for 24 hours to warm compress if there is pain and soreness .
• It also prevent diarrhea

Reconstituting the Freeze-Dried Measles Vaccine

• Using a 10 ml. syringe fitted with a long needle, aspirate 5 ml of special diluent, from the ampule.
• Empty the diluent from the syringe into the vial with the vaccine.
• Thoroughly mix the diluent and vaccine by drawing the mixture back into the syringe and expelling it slowly into the vial several times. Do not shake the vial.
• Protect reconstituted measles vaccine from sunlight. Wrap vial in foil.
• Place the reconstituted vaccine in the slit of the foam provided in the vaccine carrier.

Giving Measles Vaccine

• Ask the mother to hold the child firmly.
• Clean the skin with a cotton ball, moistened with water and let the skin dry.
• With the finger of one hand, pinch up the skin on the outer side of the upper arm.
• Without touching the needle, push the needle into the pinched-up skin so that it is not pointing.
• Slightly pull the plunger back to make sure that the vaccine is not injected into a vein.
• Press the plunger gently and inject.
• Withdraw the needle and press the injection spot quickly with a piece of cotton.