Doctors should not postpone vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella if a child is mildly ill, federal researchers report.
Some doctors do not immunize children who have low-grade fevers, colds and other minor illnesses because they fear the shot would be less effective and could cause side effects.But in a study of 386 children ages 15 months to 23 months, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found such concerns are unfounded.
The researchers found that reactions to the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine were no more common among children who were sick at the time of immunization than among those who were well.
And there was no significant difference in the vaccine's effectiveness between sick and well children, said Dr. Stephen Redd, co-author of the study.
Missed vaccinations "have contributed to the occurrence of disease outbreaks," CDC researchers wrote.