< Timeline
1963Measles
Learn about the development, approval and impact of the measles vaccine.
Measles virus
The measles virus that causes measles
1954
Drs. John F. Enders and Thomas C. Peebles isolate the measles virus, called the Edmonston strain, in tissue. It’s used to develop many other vaccines.
1963
Dr. Enders and his colleagues develop the live attenuated Edmonston B measles vaccine. This vaccine and a second measles vaccine are licensed in 1963. Two other live attenuated measles vaccines will be licensed in 1965 and 1968. More than 500,000 cases of measles occurred each year in the U.S. in the 20th century compared with 13 cases in 2020.
1971
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are combined into the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in the U.S.
2000
Measles is considered eliminated in the U.S.
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