The vials containing the dry measles vaccine powder can be frozen for long-term storage, but after reconstitution with the correct diluent, measles vaccine should be kept at between +2°C and +8°C, and never frozen. Any remaining reconstituted vaccine must be thrown away after six hours, or at the end of the immunization session, whichever comes first.

One dose of 0.5 ml of measles vaccine is injected subcutaneously (into the fatty layer below the skin and above the muscle) in the outer upper arm as soon as possible after nine months of age. Waiting this long is advisable because the maternal antibodies against measles that are transferred to the unborn baby before birth last longer in the blood of the baby than other antibodies. As a result, immunization with measles vaccine is often not effective before nine months of age. The aim in the EPI is to give measles vaccine to all children at nine months of age. To achieve high-level population immunity, a second dose is ideally given after 12 months of age during supplementary immunization activities.

In special situations, for instance in measles outbreaks, in emergencies such as in refugee camps with high measles transmission, or among HIV-infected children, an ‘early’ extra dose of measles vaccine may be given at six months. If a child has received measles vaccine before nine months of age, a second dose should be administered at nine months, or as soon as possible afterwards. All children should ideally receive a supplementary dose of measles vaccine after 12 months of age as part of measles elimination campaigns.