The invention provides self replicating infectious recombinant paramyxoviruses where the P and C genes are separated rated. The recombinant paramyxoviruses preferably have one or more attenuating mutations and/or at least one temperature sensitive mutation and one non-temperature sensitive mutation. In some embodiments, the recombinant paramyxovirus has a separate variant polynucleotide encoding a C protein and a separate monocistronic polynucleotide encoding a P protein. Also provided are compositions and methods for using the recombinant paramyxoviruses as described herein.