Comprehensive medication guide to M-M-R II including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0 out-of-pocket for most commercially insured patients under ACA preventive care requirements. VFC program provides the vaccine at no cost to eligible children under 19. Medicare Part D covers MMR for most beneficiaries.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$90–$130 per dose at commercial pharmacies; GoodRx coupons can reduce the cost to approximately $106 at participating pharmacies. The full two-dose series costs $180–$250 at retail without insurance.
Medfinder Findability Score
45/100
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M-M-R II is the brand name for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live, manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. It is a live-attenuated combination vaccine that protects against three serious viral diseases. Approved by the FDA for individuals 12 months of age and older, M-M-R II has been in clinical use in the United States for over 40 years and is one of the most widely administered vaccines in the world.
Each 0.5 mL dose contains live attenuated measles virus (Enders' attenuated Edmonston strain), mumps virus (Jeryl Lynn B-level strain), and rubella virus (Wistar RA 27/3 strain). After two doses, M-M-R II is approximately 97% effective against measles, 97% effective against rubella, and 88% effective against mumps. Immunity to measles and rubella is considered long-term and probably lifelong for most recipients.
PRIORIX (GlaxoSmithKline) is the other FDA-approved MMR vaccine in the United States and is fully interchangeable with M-M-R II for all recommended indications. If M-M-R II is unavailable at your pharmacy, PRIORIX provides equivalent protection.
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M-M-R II is a live-attenuated vaccine, meaning it contains weakened but living forms of the measles, mumps, and rubella viruses. When injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the attenuated viruses replicate mildly in the body — similar to a very mild, subclinical infection. This mild replication triggers the immune system to produce both virus-specific antibodies and long-lasting memory B and T cells.
After a single dose, approximately 95% of susceptible individuals develop measles hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies, 96% develop mumps neutralizing antibodies, and 99% develop rubella HI antibodies. The second dose serves primarily to provide immunity to the small percentage who did not fully respond to dose one (primary vaccine failure), while also boosting memory in those who did respond.
Because the vaccine contains live viruses, it requires a fully functional immune system to work properly. Immunosuppressed individuals cannot safely receive M-M-R II — the attenuated viruses can cause disseminated infection in someone without adequate immune defenses. This is why immunosuppression is an absolute contraindication. Protective immunity develops within 2-6 weeks of vaccination.
0.5 mL (standard dose) — Lyophilized powder for injection, reconstituted with sterile diluent
Single dose for all ages 12 months and older; given subcutaneously or intramuscularly
M-M-R II availability has been inconsistent at commercial pharmacies since early 2025, when a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico drove an unprecedented surge in demand. Multiple states reported localized spot shortages at CVS, Walgreens, and other pharmacy chains. While there is no declared national manufacturing shortage, commercial pharmacies in high-demand areas continue to experience periodic stockouts as of 2026.
Availability is generally better at pediatrician offices enrolled in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and at local health department clinics, which draw supply from government channels rather than commercial distributors. PRIORIX (GlaxoSmithKline), the fully interchangeable alternative, is also worth asking for at any pharmacy — stock of the two products varies independently by location.
If you are having difficulty finding M-M-R II or PRIORIX in stock near you, medfinder can call pharmacies on your behalf and send you a list of locations with the vaccine in stock, by text.
M-M-R II is not a controlled substance and does not require DEA scheduling. It can be ordered and administered by any licensed healthcare professional authorized to provide vaccinations in their state. In most states, adults do not even need a separate prescription — pharmacists can administer it directly.
Healthcare professionals who can prescribe or administer M-M-R II include:
Pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists
Family medicine and internal medicine physicians
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs)
Registered Nurses (RNs) under standing order
Pharmacists (for adult patients; state age minimums vary for children)
Public health department nurses and clinical staff
Telehealth providers cannot administer vaccines but can review vaccination history, order immunity titer testing, and in some states, send a vaccine order to a pharmacy. The injection itself always requires an in-person visit.
No. M-M-R II is not a controlled substance. It is not scheduled by the DEA and does not require a DEA-licensed prescriber. The vaccine can be administered by any licensed healthcare professional authorized to give injections in their jurisdiction — including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists.
In most U.S. states, adults can receive M-M-R II at a pharmacy without a prescription from a separate provider. There are no refill restrictions, quantity limits, or Schedule II-V documentation requirements. The vaccine is administered once or twice over a lifetime for most individuals, not as an ongoing prescription.
Most people experience mild and short-lived side effects from M-M-R II. Common reactions include:
Injection-site pain, redness, and swelling
Low-to-moderate fever (typically 6-12 days post-vaccination)
Mild rash (7-12 days post-vaccination)
Irritability, malaise, headache
Arthralgia (joint pain 2-4 weeks post-vaccination, more common in women)
Serious side effects (rare):
Anaphylaxis / severe allergic reaction
Febrile seizures (in young children, typically 6-12 days post-vaccination)
Severe thrombocytopenia (very low platelet count)
Encephalitis / encephalopathy (extremely rare)
Disseminated vaccine-virus infection (only in severely immunocompromised individuals — a contraindication to the vaccine)
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PRIORIX
GlaxoSmithKline MMR vaccine; FDA-approved in 2022; fully interchangeable with M-M-R II for all indications; uses Schwarz measles strain and RIT 4385 mumps strain
ProQuad (MMRV)
Merck combination MMR + varicella vaccine; approved for children 12 months to 12 years; reduces number of injections needed but carries slightly higher febrile seizure risk at first dose
Immune Globulin (IGIM/IGIV)
Used for post-exposure prophylaxis in immunocompromised individuals who cannot receive live vaccines; not a substitute for active immunization in those without contraindications
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Immunosuppressants (corticosteroids, biologics, chemotherapy)
majorContraindicated. Immunosuppressive therapy can prevent adequate immune response and may cause disseminated vaccine-virus infection.
Immune Globulins and Blood Products
majorPre-formed antibodies in blood products can neutralize vaccine viruses, reducing efficacy. Specific intervals per ACIP guidelines required.
Other Live Vaccines (if not given concurrently)
moderateIf not given on the same day, separate live vaccines by at least 28 days to avoid immune interference.
Tuberculin Skin Test (PPD)
moderateMMR can temporarily suppress TB skin test reactivity; perform TB test before, simultaneously, or at least 4-6 weeks after MMR vaccination.
Belimumab
majorDo not administer live vaccines within 30 days before or concurrently with belimumab.
M-M-R II remains one of the most important vaccines in the U.S. immunization schedule. The 2025 measles outbreak was a clear reminder that these diseases are not relics of the past — they resurge quickly when vaccination coverage falls. Two doses of M-M-R II (or PRIORIX) provide protection that is both highly effective and, for measles and rubella, almost certainly lifelong.
For patients seeking the vaccine during commercial pharmacy shortages, remember: PRIORIX is a fully interchangeable alternative, local health department clinics typically have better supply, and the VFC program ensures cost-free access for eligible children under 19. For adults without insurance, GoodRx coupons can reduce the cost to approximately $106 per dose at participating pharmacies.
If you are struggling to find M-M-R II or PRIORIX in stock near you, medfinder can help — we call pharmacies in your area and send you a list of which ones have the vaccine available. Do not let supply friction delay vaccination.
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