IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL CHILDREN RECEIVE TWO DOSES OF 0.5 ML OF A MEASLES, MUMPS, AND RUBELLA VACCINE BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION (OR SUBCUTANEOUSLY IF THERE IS A BLEEDING DISORDER). THESE ARE USUALLY GIVEN SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST BIRTHDAY AND BEFORE SCHOOL ENTRY, BUT MAY BE GIVEN AT ANY AGE IF ROUTINE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN OMITTED, ALLOWING 3 MONTHS BETWEEN DOSES. THE COMBINED VACCINE MAY ALSO BE USED FOR PROPHYLAXIS AFTER EXPOSURE TO MEASLES PROVIDED IT IS GIVEN WITHIN 72 HOURS OF CONTACT. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR POSTEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST EITHER MUMPS OR RUBELLA. IF THE VACCINE IS GIVEN BEFORE 12 MONTHS OF AGE, RE-IMMUNISATION WILL BE NECESSARY STARTING AT BETWEEN 12 AND 15 MONTHS WITH A FURTHER DOSE ACCORDING TO NATIONAL SCHEDULES.