Measles Vaccine for Babies: What the New Global Study Means for Parents

Measles is coming back, and the youngest children are most affected. A new study published in Nature Medicine estimates that measles cases in children under 5 rose by 40% worldwide, from 11.1 million in 2019 to 15.6 million in 2023. For parents of babies, the practical question is simple: when does my baby get the measles vaccine, and what should I do if my child is too young, or I am pregnant?

This guide explains what the study reports, what it cannot tell you about your own family, and what official health bodies say about the MMR vaccine schedule, pregnancy and travel. It is general information, not medical advice. For questions about your own baby or pregnancy, talk to your paediatrician, GP, midwife or obstetrician.

TL;DR

Question	Short answer
What did the new study find?	An estimated 40% rise in measles cases in under-5s between 2019 and 2023, linked by the authors to disrupted routine immunisation and strained health systems.
Does this mean measles is common where I live?	Not necessarily. The figures are global modelled estimates and local risk varies a lot. Your health department can tell you about local cases.
When do babies get measles vaccine?	US: 12 to 15 months, then 4 to 6 years (CDC). UK: 12 and 18 months (NHS). WHO: from 9 months where measles is common.
Can my baby have it earlier?	An early dose at 6 to 11 months is advised before travel to some places, after close contact, or in an outbreak. It does not replace the later doses.
Can I have MMR in pregnancy?	No. Wait until after pregnancy and avoid conceiving for one month afterwards (CDC).
What if my baby has a fever and rash?	Phone your doctor or urgent line before you go in, and seek emergency care for breathing trouble or a baby who is hard to wake.

What does the new measles study actually show?

The study, a Global Burden of Disease analysis of measles and vaccine coverage in children under 5, was published in Nature Medicine in 2026 (DOI 10.1038/s41591-026-04661-7) by researchers at the University of Queensland. We could not open the full paper for this guide, so the details below come from the university's summary of it, reported by Medical Xpress. Check the paper itself for methods and uncertainty ranges.

According to that summary, the researchers estimated measles cases, deaths and vaccine gaps in children under 5 across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023. Their main findings:

• Estimated measles cases fell by nearly 80% worldwide between 1990 and 2019.
• They then rose about 40%, from 11.1 million in 2019 to 15.6 million in 2023.
• In 2023, an estimated 23.7 million infants, around 1 in 5, missed their first dose. About half of those missed doses were in sub-Saharan Africa and about 20% in South Asia.
• Two childhood doses are estimated to have prevented nearly 59 million deaths between 2000 and 2024.
• Kindergarten MMR coverage in the United States was reported to have fallen from 95% to 92%.
• Australasia had the highest regional coverage in 2023, with an estimated 96% of children under 5 receiving a second dose.

The authors point to disruption of routine immunisation during COVID-19, under-resourced health systems and, in some places, misinformation as drivers of the decline.

What can this study not tell you?

It is a modelling study. A Global Burden of Disease analysis combines surveillance reports, coverage surveys and statistical methods to fill gaps, so every number is an estimate with a range around it. Countries with weak reporting are the hardest to measure. The study describes where and how coverage has slipped; it does not show that any single factor, such as misinformation, caused the rise in cases. And global averages say little about your street or your clinic.

What the study does add to the picture is a pattern that matches official figures. WHO reports that in 2025 about 84% of children had one dose by their first birthday and 77% had received both doses, leaving about 29 million infants under-protected (WHO measles fact sheet). WHO says measles deaths fell from around 780,000 in 2000 to 95,000 in 2024, most of them in children under 5.

Why does measles matter so much for babies?

Measles is highly contagious. WHO describes it as a "highly contagious, serious airborne disease" and says one infected person can infect up to 18 others where immunity is low. The virus can stay active in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours, and a person can spread it from 4 days before the rash appears to 4 days after.

Most measles deaths come from complications. WHO lists blindness, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), severe diarrhoea with dehydration, ear infections and severe breathing problems such as pneumonia. Complications are most common in children under 5, adults over 30, malnourished children and people with weakened immune systems. There is no specific treatment; care focuses on easing symptoms, preventing dehydration and treating complications.

This is why immunity in a whole community matters. A newborn is too young for the vaccine, and a baby between birth and the first dose depends partly on the people around them being protected.

When do babies get the measles vaccine?

The schedule differs by country, so use your own national programme as the final word.

United States

CDC advises two doses of MMR for all children: the first at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years (CDC MMR vaccine). CDC estimates one dose is about 93% effective against measles and two doses about 97%.

United Kingdom

The NHS now offers MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox) in two doses at 12 and 18 months. Children born on or before 31 December 2019 who missed doses are offered MMR instead, at least one month apart (NHS MMR vaccine). The NHS says about 99% of people are protected against measles after two doses, with protection starting within two weeks of the shot.

Global guidance

WHO says two doses are needed for reliable immunity. The first dose is given at 9 months in countries where measles is common and at 12 to 15 months elsewhere, and the second is usually given at 15 to 18 months.

Can a baby have an early dose?

Yes, in specific situations. CDC advises infants aged 6 to 11 months to get one MMR dose before international travel, followed by two more doses after the first birthday. The NHS offers babies aged 6 to 11 months an early dose if travelling to a higher-risk area, in close contact with measles, or during a measles outbreak. If your baby is under a year old and you are travelling, ask your clinic well ahead of departure, as you need time for the dose to work.

What about pregnancy and planning a baby?

Measles in pregnancy is serious. WHO says pregnant women who catch measles risk miscarriage or premature birth with low birth weight, and the NHS adds stillbirth to that list and notes that rubella in pregnancy can damage a baby's sight and hearing.

MMR is a live vaccine, so it is not given during pregnancy. CDC says: "Wait to get MMR vaccine until after you are no longer pregnant," and "Avoid getting pregnant for at least 1 month after getting MMR vaccine." The NHS also lists people who could become pregnant as a group who should make sure they are vaccinated.

In practice:

• If you are trying to conceive, ask your doctor to check your vaccination records or immunity before you conceive. Our ovulation and fertile window guide covers timing.
• If you are already pregnant and unsure of your immunity, tell your midwife or obstetrician early. They can advise you on avoiding exposure and what to do after any contact.
• If you are breastfeeding, CDC states "It is safe for breastfeeding women to receive MMR vaccination."

Our pregnancy week by week guide lists the other checks and appointments of each trimester.

What do measles symptoms look like?

WHO says symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure. Early symptoms last about 4 to 7 days and include fever, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes and small white spots inside the cheeks. The rash typically appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms, starting on the face and upper neck, spreading downwards over about 3 days and lasting 4 to 8 days.

Many illnesses cause a fever and a rash, and only a clinician can tell them apart. Do not try to diagnose it yourself. If the symptoms fit and your child is unvaccinated, or you know of measles nearby, call for advice.

When to call your midwife or doctor

Call your GP, paediatrician or urgent care line the same day if:

• your child has a fever with a rash, a cough and red eyes, especially after contact with someone with measles;
• you are pregnant and have been in contact with someone who has measles, or you have symptoms;
• your baby is under 12 months and has been exposed.

If you suspect measles, phone ahead rather than walking into a waiting room. Clinics can arrange a separate entrance so that babies and pregnant people are not exposed.

Get emergency help now (999 in the UK, 911 in the US) if a child has difficulty breathing, is very drowsy or hard to wake, has a seizure, cannot keep fluids down or shows signs of dehydration such as no wet nappy for many hours. These match the complications WHO describes: pneumonia, encephalitis and dehydration. Our pregnancy warning signs guide lists when to seek urgent care in pregnancy, and the complete newborn care guide covers when to call about a newborn.

What you can do now

1. Check your child's vaccine record. Look at the red book, yellow card, patient portal or clinic letter and confirm which doses have been given.
2. Book the next dose. If a dose has been missed or you are not sure, contact your clinic. In the UK, your GP can check what has been given and rearrange appointments. Catch-up is normal; you do not need to start over.
3. Plan travel early. If your baby is 6 to 11 months and you will travel abroad, ask about an early MMR dose several weeks before departure.
4. Check your own immunity before or early in pregnancy, and ask about it at a pre-conception or booking appointment.
5. Ask about the household. Partners, grandparents and carers who are not sure about their own measles protection can ask their doctor. The NHS says adults born before 1970 with no record of protection can ask their GP for the vaccine.
6. Bring your questions. If you have worries about the vaccine, a paediatrician or nurse can go through them with you. Our hepatitis B birth dose guide shows how we explain another early-life vaccine.
7. Know the symptoms above, and the phone-ahead rule.

If you are unwell with a high temperature on vaccination day, the NHS advises waiting until you feel better before being vaccinated.

Sources and related reading

Official and primary sources:

• Nature Medicine (2026), global measles burden and vaccine coverage study, DOI 10.1038/s41591-026-04661-7
• World Health Organization, Measles fact sheet
• CDC, Measles vaccine: MMR
• NHS, MMR vaccine
• News peg: Medical Xpress report on the study

Related Egspect guides and tools:

• Hepatitis B birth dose for newborns
• Complete newborn care guide
• Pregnancy warning signs
• Baby milestones from 0 to 24 months
• Pregnancy week by week

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Facts were accurate as of October 22, 2026; guidance changes, so check with your care team.