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WHAT IS MMR?

 

MMR stands for measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). The MMR vaccine protects a child against these diseases. Until the MMR vaccine was introduced in 1988, these three diseases, although often mild, could lead to serious illness and complications.

 

What is the MMR vaccine and how does it work?

 

The MMR vaccine is made out of the measles, mumps and rubella viruses but they have been modified so that they do not cause serious illness in people. This is done by growing successive generations of the virus until eventually they grow a very mild strain. The vaccine works by stimulating a child's immune response so that when exposed to measles, mumps or rubella, his body can successfully fight them off. In 26 years, 250 million doses of MMR have been given in over 40 countries. No one has ever died from an MMR vaccine.

 

When is MMR given routinely?

 

The MMR vaccine .is given routinely by injection at 12 to 15 months, with a second dose between three and five years as a pre-school booster. Before 12 months, babies still carry immunity from their mothers, and the vaccine would not work for them. The vaccine is given twice because not all children receive it as babies, and five to 10 per cent of children who had the first vaccine are still not immune to MMR. Among those children who do not respond to the first dose, 90 per cent have a good response to the second dose.

 

Vaccines against mumps, measles and rubella have helped to make these illnesses rare in the UK. If there was a drop in the number of vaccinations, the diseases would return. Between one and two million children still die worldwide each year from measles.

 

Complications of mumps, measles and rubella

 

Mumps vaccine prevents mumps, which was the biggest cause of viral meningitis in children. Mumps can cause deafness in one in 25 cases, and in older males may cause painful, swollen testicles which can lead to infertility.

 

Measles vaccine prevents deaths and complications from measles, a disease that can still be serious. One in 1000 children with measles develops encephalitis, and one in 2500-5000 die.

 

Rubella vaccine prevents mothers catching rubella while pregnant and damaging their babies while they are still in the womb. In congenital rubella syndrome, babies can be born with deafness, blindness, heart problems and brain damage.

 

What to expect after the vaccination

 

The MMR vaccine contains viruses that are very similar to those that cause the actual disease, so mild symptoms of the disease might occur after the vaccine. This shows that the vaccine is working. Often a child has no symptoms but has still responded to the vaccine.

 

Common Reaction

 

Redness soreness, and swelling at the site of the injection:  One of 10 children will have a very mild form measles with rash, fever and loss of appetites about a week to 10 days after the vaccine.

Mild form of mumps: slight neck swelling may occur about three weeks after the injection.

 

Less common and more severe reactions:

 

A rash of bruise-like spots: this may appear about two weeks after the vaccine. It is rare and is due to the rubella part of the vaccine.

 

Fits: One in 1000 children will have a fit after becoming feverish, this will not cause after long term problems.  A child is 10 times more likely to have a fit from measles than from the vaccines.  

 

Encephalitis (brain inflammation): this is extremely rare, affecting about one in 1,000,000 immunized children. This is the same as the risk of a child developing encephalitis without the vaccine. In children with measles, encephalitis affects one in 5000 children.

 

Children who should not be immunised

 

Although the majority of children can receive the vaccine there are times when some children should not be immunised:

 

Certain children who are taking drugs that affect their immune system, or who have reduced immunity, cannot have the MMR vaccine. This is because it contains a live virus albeit one that has been attenuated (tamed) to produce a very mild version of the illnesses.

 

Other children may need to delay their MMR vaccine if they have a fever or have had another live vaccine at around the same time as the MMR, such as BCG for tuberculosis

 

Children who experienced a severe reaction to the first MMR vaccine may not be able to have the booster dose, because of the possibility that it may cause a repeat reaction.

 

The MMR debate

 

There has been concern recently that the MMR vaccine might be linked to autism and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease; However, there is no scientific evidence for this.

 

The only link between the MMR and autism is that they both coincidentally appear at around the same time - just after the first birthday. Crohn's disease is no more common in immunised people than it is in those who aren't. Therefore, there is no evidence that there is any link between measles, MMR and Crohn's disease. If less than 85 per cent of children are immunised, measles epidemics will return. Children who are not immunised in this country rely on other people immunizing their children to avoid becoming infected.

 

If your child’s temperature remains high for over 48 hours within a month of the vaccine, especially if  there are no other signs or symptoms of infection.

 

When to see the doctors.

• If he develops a rash.
• If he is irritable, feverish and difficult to awaken.
• If he has a fit or convulsion. 

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.