In Ireland, children typically receive their MMR vaccination at 12 months of age in their GP surgery and at 4-5 years of age in Junior Infants. These 2 doses are often recorded in a small immunisation booklet that the parent brings with them to the vaccination appointment. In addition, if you or your child received a vaccine from a GP, or a HSE doctor/nurse, your records are held at the Immunisation Section, Primary Care Unit, St Lomans Hospital Campus, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
If your child is aged between 2 and 17 years of age and has 2 doses of the MMR vaccine then you do not need to take any further action.
If they have had no dose or just one dose then they can catch up by making an appointment for the remaining dose(s) at the surgery.
We have been advised by the National Immunisation Office (NIO) that where the patient or parent/guardian is unsure of the vaccination status, then they should receive an MMR catch up vaccination. NIO advice is that if an individual has already had two doses of MMR, a third dose will likely not cause any increase in side effects.
For those aged 18 and over who are not fully vaccinated, a catch up MMR vaccine is available by contacting us for an appointment at the surgery.
Please note that the MMR is a live vaccine and for this reason it cannot be given during pregnancy. In addition Pregnancy should be avoided for 1 month following vaccination.
Further information regarding the MMR vaccination can be found here: think-measles-dl-single-pages-web-final-06032024.pdf (hse.ie)