Measles, mumps, and rubella are viral diseases that can have serious consequences. These diseases can easily spread from person to person through inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine can protect children (and adults) from all three of these diseases
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Symptoms |
Complications |
| Measles (M) |
Fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, commonly followed by a rash whole body |
Ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, brain damage or death (rarely) |
| Mumps (M) |
Fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen salivary glands |
Deafness, encephalitis or meningitis, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, death (very rarely) |
Rubella (R)
(also known as German Measles) |
Fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and eye irritation |
- Arthritis in up to 50% of adult women
- If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.
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Who should get MMR vaccine and when?
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Children
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2 doses of MMR vaccine:
• First dose at 9-12 months of age
• Second dose at 18 months of age or at least 3 months after the first dose
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Adults
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If no evidence of immunity to MMR: 2 doses administered at least 1 months apart
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Adults who have evidence of immunity received 1 dose of MMR: revaccinated 1 dose
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Special populations such as HIV infection, women of childbearing potential: 1 or 2 doses depending on the indication (Ask your doctor for more details)
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What should be done if MMR vaccine series was not completed?
Contact your doctor if a dose is missed. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over. Be sure to receive all recommended doses of this vaccine.
Who should not get MMR vaccine or should wait?
- Anyone who has any severe, life-threatening allergies after a dose of MMR vaccine.
- Woman who is pregnant, or thinks she might be pregnant. Pregnant women should wait to get MMR vaccine until after they are no longer pregnant. Women should avoid getting pregnant for at least 1 month after getting MMR vaccine.
- Anyone who has a weakened immune system such as cancer or HIV/AIDS or medical treatments (chemotherapy, steroids).
- Anyone who has a parent, brother, or sister with a history of immune system problems.
- Anyone who has ever had a condition that makes them bruise or bleed easily.
- Anyone who has recently had a blood transfusion you might be advised to postpone MMR vaccination for 3 months or more.
- Anyone who has tuberculosis.
- Anyone who has gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks. Live vaccines given too close together might not work as well.
- Anyone who is moderately or severely ill should probably wait. A mild illness, such as a cold, is usually not a reason to postpone a vaccination
What are the undesirable effects of MMR vaccine
The risk of MMR vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting measles, mumps or rubella. Most people who get MMR vaccine do not have any serious problems with it.
| Mild Problems |
- Fever (about 1 out of 6 doses).
- Redness or rash at the injection site (about 1 out of 20 doses)
** If these events happen, they usually begin within 2 weeks after the shot.
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| Moderate problems |
- Seizure (jerking or staring) often associated with fever (about 1 out of 3,000 doses).
- Temporary pain and stiffness in the joints, mostly in adult women (up to 1 out of 4).
- Temporary low platelet count, cause a bleeding disorder (about 1 out of 30,000 doses).
- Rash all over body.
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| Severe problems |
- Deafness, long-term seizures, coma, permanent brain damage (very rare).
- Serious allergic reaction (less than 1 out of a million doses) include swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat. These would usually start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.
** If these events happen, seek medical advice immediately.
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***If you need more information about vaccine, please contact doctor, pharmacist or healthcare personnel***
Drug Interaction between MMR vaccine and other medications
Tell your doctor if you have recently received drugs that can weaken the immune system, including: immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., azathioprine, methotrexate or steroids) because it may result in an increased risk of secondary transmission of infection or interference with the immune response to the live vaccine.
References
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Last modify: February 27, 2025