The MMR vaccine is a "3-in-1" vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella -- all of which are potentially serious diseases of childhood. One out of 30 children with measles develops pneumonia. For every 1,000 children who get the disease, one or two will die from it.
WHO SHOULD GET THIS VACCINE
The MMR is one of the recommended childhood immunizations. Generally, proof of MMR vaccination is required for school entry.
Adults 18 years or older who were born after 1956 should also receive MMR if they are uncertain of their immunization status or if they have only had one MMR prior to school entry.
Adults born during or prior to 1956 are believed to be immune. Many people within that age group had the actual diseases during childhood.
Women of reproductive age who have not received the MMR vaccination in the past or in whom blood tests have shown they are not immune, should receive the MMR vaccine. Women should NOT receive this vaccine if they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the next 1 to 3 months.
BENEFITS
One MMR will protect most individuals from contracting measles, mumps, or rubella throughout their lives. The second MMR is recommended to cover those individuals who may not have received adequate protection from the first MMR.
Measles is a virus which causes a rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever in most people, but can also lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death in some cases.
Mumps virus causes fever, headache, and swollen glands, but can also lead to deafness, meningitis, swollen testicles or ovaries, and death in some cases.
Rubella, also known as the German measles, is generally a mild disease, but can cause serious birth defects in the child of a woman who becomes infected while pregnant.
RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS
Watch for and be familiar with how to care for a fever, joint pain and stiffness, minor gland swelling and tenderness, or minor redness and soreness at the injection site. If a rash develops without other symptoms, no treatment is necessary, and it should go away within several days.
Most people who receive the MMR will have no associated problems. Others may have minor problems, such as soreness and redness at the injection site or fevers. Serious problems associated with receiving the MMR are rare.
Potential mild to moderate adverse effects include:
Severe adverse effects may include:
Despite considerable publicity, there is no evidence linking MMR vaccination with the development of autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (www.cdc.gov/vaccines) provides further information.
The potential benefits from receiving the MMR vaccine far outweigh the potential risks. Measles, mumps, and rubella are all very serious illnesses, and each can have complications that lead to lifetime disabilities or even death.
CONSIDERATIONS
If the child is ill with something more serious than just a cold, immunization may be delayed. Tell your health care providers if your child had any problems with the first MMR vaccine before scheduling the second one.
The MMR vaccine should not be given to people who have:
You should not receive this vaccine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the next 3 months.
People who have received transfusions or other blood products (including gamma globulin) or who have had low platelet counts should discuss the proper timing of MMR vaccine with their health care provider.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF:
Vaccine - MMR; Rubella vaccination; Mumps vaccination; Measles - mumps - rubella (MMR) vaccine