Which group is specifically advised to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine?

Healthcare professionals are specifically advised to receive two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine due to their increased risk of exposure to these diseases. This recommendation is crucial as healthcare settings can harbor outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly measles. Because healthcare professionals have close contact with patients, being fully immunized helps protect not only the providers themselves but also the patients they serve.

In contrast, adults born before 1957 are typically considered to have natural immunity acquired through exposure to wild viruses, which often negates the need for vaccination. Children aged 5 years and older usually receive their vaccinations as part of their childhood immunization schedule, but the emphasis for healthcare professionals serves to enhance community immunity where risk of outbreaks might be higher. The recommendation for all adults to receive two doses is broad and not specifically applicable to the increased exposure risk present in healthcare environments, making the targeted advice for healthcare professionals distinctive and significant.