Measles, Mumps & Rubella

Why get vaccinated?

Measles, Mumps and Rubella are three very serious diseases.

The Measles virus causes rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever. It can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures (jerking and staring), brain damage, and death.

The Mumps virus causes fever, headache, and swollen glands. It can lead to deafness, meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal chord covering), painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and rarely, death.

 The Rubella (German Measles) virus causes rash, mild fever, and arthritis (mostly in women). If a women gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.  Note: Women should not get pregnant for 3 months after getting the MMR vaccine.

You can catch these diseases by being around someone who has them. They are spread from person to person through the air.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent the disease.

Who should get MMR vaccine?

Generally, anyone 18 years of age or older, who was born after 1956, should get a least one dose of MMR vaccine, unless they can show that they have either had the vaccines or diseases. MMR may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Some people should not get MMR vaccine or should wait.

People should not get MMR vaccine who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or a previous dose of MMR vaccine.

People who are moderately or severely ill at the time when the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting MMR vaccine.

Some people should check with their health care provider about whether they should get MMR vaccine, including anyone who:

• Has Hiv/Aids, or another disease that affects the immune system
• Is being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for 2 weeks or longer.
• Has any kind of cancer
• Is taking treatment with x-rays or drugs
• Has ever had a low platelet count (a blood disorder)
• People who recently had a transfusion or were given other blood products should ask their doctor when they get MMR vaccine.

What are the risk from MMR vaccine ?

A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of MMR vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting any of these three diseases. Most people who get MMR vaccine do not have any problems with it.

Mild Problems

Mild problems include: Fever, mild rash, and rarely swelling of the glands in the cheek and neck. If these problems occur, it is usually within 7-12 days after the shot. They occur less often after the second dose.

Moderate Problems

Moderate problems include: Seizure (jerking or staring) caused by fever (about 1 out of 3,000 doses). Temporary pain and stiffness in the joints, mostly in teenage or adult women ( up to 1 in 4), and temporary low platelet count, which can cause a bleeding disorder. (about 1 out of 30,000 doses).

Severe Problems (Very Rare)

Although rare, Severe problems include: Serious allergic reaction (less than 1 out of a million doses). Serious allergic reactions include: difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. A high fever or seizure, if it occurs, would happen 1 or 2 weeks after the shot.

What should be done in the event of an emergency related to an allergic reaction to MMR?

Call you health care provider right away. Be sure to tell your health care provider what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccine was given. Ask your doctor or nurse to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form, or call VAERS yourself at 1-800-822-7967.

Center of Disease Control/ National Immunization Program Website