When should the first dose of the Measles vaccine (AMV1) be administered?

The first dose of the Measles vaccine, also known as the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, is recommended to be administered between 12 and 15 months of age. This timing is crucial because it allows the child to develop an adequate immune response to the vaccine, given that infants have some natural immunity to measles from their mothers, which begins to wane after the first year of life.

Administering the vaccine too early, such as at birth, 6 months, or 9 months, may not provide sufficient immunity because the residual maternal antibodies can interfere with the immune response to the vaccine. By 12 months, most infants' maternal antibodies have decreased enough to allow for an effective response to the vaccine, making this the ideal timing for the first dose. Thus, the recommendation at this age ensures that children can develop lasting immunity, which is essential for protecting them against measles and contributing to community immunity.