How can measles be prevented?

Those infected with measles are isolated for at least 4 days from the onset of the rash, and if complicated by pneumonia, for at least 10 days.

Information about the sick person and those who have been in contact with the sick person is passed on to the relevant children's institutions. Children who have not had measles and who have had contact with a patient with measles are not allowed into children's institutions (nurseries, kindergartens and the first two grades of school) for 17 days from the moment of contact, and for those who have received immunoglobulin for prophylactic purposes, the period of isolation is extended to 21 days. The first 7 days from the beginning of contact, the child can attend the child's institution, since the incubation period for measles is never shorter than 7 days, their isolation begins on the 8th day after contact. Children who have had measles, as well as those vaccinated with a live measles vaccine, and adults are not separated.

For specific measles prevention, immunoglobulin prepared from donor blood is used. It is administered for emergency prevention only to those children who have been in contact with a measles patient and for whom vaccination with the vaccine is contraindicated, or to children who have not reached the vaccination age. The dose of immunoglobulin is 3 ml. Immunoglobulin has the greatest preventive effect when administered no later than the 5th day from the moment of contact.

Active immunization is carried out with a live measles vaccine, manufactured under the supervision of A.A. Smorodintsev from the L-16 vaccine strain, as well as vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella with foreign preparations Priorix and MMR II. Administration of the vaccine to susceptible children causes an immunological reaction with the appearance of specific measles antibodies in 95-98% of those vaccinated. The accumulation of antibodies begins 7-15 days after the administration of the vaccine. The highest level of antibodies is established after 1-2 months. After 4-6 months, the antibody titer begins to decrease. The duration of immunity acquired as a result of active immunization has not yet been established (observation period up to 20 years).

In response to the introduction of a live measles vaccine, clinical manifestations of the vaccination process may occur in the period from the 6th to the 18th day in the form of an increase in body temperature, conjunctivitis, catarrhal symptoms, and sometimes a rash. The vaccination reaction usually lasts no more than 2-3 days. Children with vaccination reactions are not contagious to others.

Mandatory vaccination against measles with a live vaccine is carried out for those who have not had measles at the age of 12 months with revaccination at the age of 6 years. The vaccine is administered once subcutaneously in a dose of 0.5 ml. For epidemiological well-being, 95% of children should be immune (having recovered and vaccinated). The widespread introduction of active immunization against measles has contributed to a sharp decrease in the incidence of this infection, especially in preschool and school-age children. In the context of mass active immunization of children, the proportion of older children and adults among those sick with measles increases.

Live measles vaccine is used for emergency measles prevention and to stop outbreaks in organized groups (preschools, schools, other secondary educational institutions). In this case, all contacts (except children under 12 months of age) who have no information about measles or vaccination are immediately vaccinated. Vaccination carried out in the center of infection in the early stages of the incubation period (up to the 5th day) stops the spread of measles in the group.

There are no contraindications to the measles vaccination.

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