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Estimates of vaccine effectiveness against measles and mumps: 14 years follow-up of a large cohort in Wales, UK
,
Simon Cottrell,
Catherine Moore,
Lucy Griffiths
International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume: 55, Issue: 3, Start page: dyag083
Swansea University Authors:
MALORIE PERRY, Michael Gravenor , Lucy Griffiths
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© The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1093/ije/dyag083
Abstract
Background: Uptake of the measles–mumps–rubella vaccine in Wales is high. However, sporadic measles cases still occur and there are large mumps outbreaks every few years. In this study, the long-term vaccine effectiveness (VE) of vaccines containing measles and mumps is assessed. Methods: A retrospe...
| Published in: | International Journal of Epidemiology |
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| ISSN: | 0300-5771 1464-3685 |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press (OUP)
2026
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71879 |
| Abstract: |
Background: Uptake of the measles–mumps–rubella vaccine in Wales is high. However, sporadic measles cases still occur and there are large mumps outbreaks every few years. In this study, the long-term vaccine effectiveness (VE) of vaccines containing measles and mumps is assessed. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 822 116 individuals aged 1–30 years were followed up between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2020. Welsh Demographic Service data were linked to vaccination status from the national vaccination register and primary care records. Outcomes were identified by linking to laboratory confirmations (measles and mumps) and notifications (mumps) data. Complications were sourced from hospital admissions and primary care data. Extended Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios. Results: The adjusted VE (aVE) against confirmed measles after two doses remained high after 15 years 99.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 99.2–99.9]. The aVE for confirmed mumps was lower, with decline over time: 93.6% (95% CI 90.2–95.8) in the first 5 years after vaccination with dose two and 49.9% (95% CI 34.4–61.8) after ≥15 years. A third dose of mumps vaccine temporarily increases protection (87.6%, 95% CI 71.7–94.6). The aVE estimates for mumps were lower when based on clinical suspicion. The VE was high against complications for both infections. Conclusion: The high, sustained VE for measles strengthens evidence that elimination remains possible and the high VE against mumps complications is encouraging. Evidence for the waning of mumps immunity may be important when deciding to implement a third dose in outbreak settings. With the increased use of data linkage, studies should be conducted to corroborate these findings. |
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| Keywords: |
vaccination, immunization, effectiveness, measles, MMR, measles–mumps–rubella vaccine |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
Swansea University |
| Issue: |
3 |
| Start Page: |
dyag083 |