MMR vaccine campaign

Measles doesn’t wait. Neither should you.

Measles cases are rising overseas and in Melbourne. Children under five years and adults over 20 years can get very sick from measles, and adults aged 20-59 may not be fully protected against measles. Many people born between 1966 and 1992 did not get two doses during childhood and adults born overseas may be even more likely to have missed out. Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine will keep you safe.

Are you a vaccine provider? Click here to access an overview of the campaign and resources.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious illness, especially in adults.

Measles in Melbourne

There is an increase in measles cases in Melbourne. Protecting yourself through MMR vaccination helps stop the virus from spreading to your family, friends, and community.

MMR vaccine

The best way to protect yourself, friends, and community is to receive a free catch-up vaccine if you don’t have record of two MMR vaccines or you don’t know.

This is important if:

• you were born in Australia and are aged 20-59
• you were born overseas.

This is because you may have only had one MMR vaccine as a child.

Where to get an MMR vaccine

To get an MMR vaccine as an adult aged 20-59 years, contact your GP. The vaccine is free, but your doctor may charge a fee for the appointment. Many community pharmacies can also give an MMR to an adult however there will likely be a small administration fee.

Many major health services will provide MMR vaccine for their staff, so contact your Occupational Health and Safety team if you work at a health service. Some local council immunisation clinics may also offer the vaccine to adults, but it is important to check first. Visit your local council’s website to check if they do.

Current alerts

Stay updated on local measles activity in your area: Measles public exposure sites in Victoria.

Contact

For any queries contact the Western Public Health Unit on 1800 497 111 Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5pm.

Last updated: 24 December 2025