• About the Diseases

Measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles) are serious diseases. They spread when germs pass from an infected person to the nose or throat of others.

• About the Vaccines

Benefits of the vaccines

Vaccination is the best way to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella. Because most children get the MMR vaccines, there are now many fewer cases of these diseases. There would be many more cases if we stopped vaccinating children.

• MMR Schedule

Most children should have a total of 2 MMR vaccines. They should have MMR at:

• 12-15 months of age
• 4-6 years of age or before middle school or junior high school

Other vaccines may be given at the same time as MMR.

For more information on scheduling vaccines, check out our "1^st Year Schedule"

• Who should get MMR vaccine?

Most doctors recommend that almost all young children get MMR vaccines; however, there are some cautions. Be sure to let your CMP provider if the person getting the vaccine is less able to fight serious infections because of:

• A disease he/she was born with
• Treatment with drugs, such as long-term steroids
• Any kind of cancer
• Cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs

• People with AIDS or HIV infection usually should get MMR vaccine
• Pregnant women should wait until after pregnancy for MMR vaccine
• People with a serious allergy to eggs or the drug neomycin should discuss that condition with your CMP Provider

Tell us if the person getting the vaccine:

• Ever had a serious allergic reaction or other problem after getting MMR
• Now has moderate or severe illness
• Has ever had a seizure
• Has a parent, brother, or sister who has had seizures
• Has gotten immune globulin or other blood products (such as a transfusion) during the past several months

If you are unsure in anyway, please discuss this with your CMP Provider.

• What are the risks from MMR vaccine?

As with any medicine, there is a very small risk that serious problems, even death, could occur after taking a vaccine. The risks from the vaccine are much smaller than the risks from the diseases if people stopped using vaccine. Almost all people who get MMR have no problems from it.

Soon after the vaccination, there may be soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given.

1-2 weeks after the first dose, there may be:

• Rash (5-15 out of every 100 doses).
• Fever of 103° or higher (5-15 out of ever 100 doses). This usually lasts 1-2 days.
• Swelling of the glands in the cheeks, neck, or under the jaw.
• A seizure (jerking and staring spell) usually caused by fever. This is rare.

1-3 weeks after the first dose, there may be:

• Pain, stiffness, or swelling in one or more joints lasting up to 3 days (1 out of every 100 doses in children; up to 40 out of every 100 doses in young women). Rarely, pain or stiffness lasts a month or longer, or may come and go; this is most common in young and adult women.

Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen (non-aspirin) may be used to reduce fever and soreness.

These problems happen very rarely:

• Serious allergic reaction.
• Low number of platelets (a type of blood cell) that can lead to bleeding problems. This is almost always temporary.
• Long seizures, decreased consciousness, or coma.

Problems following MMR are much less common after the second dose.

• What to do if there is a serious reaction:
  
  
• Call your CMP office right away
• Write down what happened and the date and time it happened
• Ask your CMP Provider or the health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Even Report form or call: (800) 822-7967 (toll free)

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program gives compensation (payment) for persons thought to be injured by vaccines. For details call (800) 338-2382. 

**Information courtesy of U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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