The MMR vaccination is used to protect the children’s against Measles, mumps & rubella. More than 524 million children immunized through measles and measles-rubella vaccination campaigns.
Measles:
It is an acute viral respiratory tract infection characterized by high fever as high as 105°F, cough, runny nose, red & watery eyes and malaise.
Mumps:
A viral infection primarily affect salivary glands (swelling of one or both salivary glands) that are located near your ears. It is common in U.S. until mumps vaccination becomes a routine. Mumps causes fever, headache, muscle aches and tiredness. It can also lead to deafness and swelling of brain and spinal cord covering if untreated.
Rubella (German Measles):
It is a contagious disease caused by rubella virus. Symptoms include mild illness, low-grade fever, sore throat & rashes on face & body.
All these ailments are highly contagious and can easily profuse among unvaccinated people. These infections can lead to meningitis (inflammation of protective membranes of Brain and Spinal cord) which can causes hearing problems in pregnancy. Hence, MMR vaccination is crucial.
The MMR vaccine is safe. MMR vaccine is given in 2 doses by injection which protects the children throughout their lifetime.
1): at the age of 12-15 months.
2): at the age of 4-6 years.
Children who are moving aside from United States can get the MMR vaccination as early as 6 months of age. Also they should get the routine doses of MMR vaccine at 12-15 months & 4-6 years. If you are going to an area where the diseases prevalence is high, you should get 1st dose at 12 months & 2nd dose 4 weeks later.
Recently, U.S. has outbreak of mumps and measles. Outbreak of a disease is defined as sudden increase in occurrence of a particular disease than expected. During the outbreak of mumps & measles , Doctors may recommend 3rd dose of MMR vaccine. Consult your doctor about vaccinating 3rd dose.
Possible side effects of MMR vaccination:
The serious after- effects of MMR vaccine are very few, however, some moderate side effects can happen after vaccination of MMR such as:
.Skin rashes.
.Fever.
.Swollen cheeks.
.Febrile seizures.
When should not get MMR Vaccination:
Do not get MMR vaccination to the children if:
If the 1st dose of MMR vaccine produced some severe allergic reaction.
has immune system disorders such as cancer and your child is taking chemotherapy.
When you are taking any kind of steroids.
Do not give MMR immunization to pregnant women till her childbirth.
MMR vaccination protects mostly people throughout their lives. Higher rates of MMR vaccination made the diseases of Measles, mumps & rubella less common in United Sates. Thanks to widespread introduction of MMR vaccine, global measles death have fallen dramatically. Before 2001, more than 750,000 children died every year from measles. The outbreak in United States is also controlled thorugh MMR vaccination.
Recommended Vaccines needed by age:
- 1) MMR=measles, mumps, and rubella combination vaccine.
2) MMRV = measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella combination vaccine.
3) Measles=Rubeola.
4) Measles = ”10-day,” “hard” and “red” measles.
5) Rubella = also called “German” or “3-day” measles.
6) CRS = Congenital Rubella Syndrome.
