ABOUT THE VACCINE
Who should get the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine?
- The MMR vaccine is given to children as a series of 2 doses. The first dose is given at 12 months, and the second dose is given at 4 - 6 years of age. For children who also need protection against chickenpox (varicella), the 2nd dose of vaccine can be given as the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
- Older children and teens who have not been immunized or do not have evidence of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella should also get two doses of the MMR vaccine.
- It is recommended that people born in 1970 or later (1957 for health care workers) get 2 doses of the vaccine. This is especially important for travellers.
- People born before 1970 (1957 for health care workers) are generally assumed to have acquired immunity to measles from natural infection. Therefore the MMR vaccine is not routinely recommended for these people.
What are the benefits of the MMR vaccine?
What are the side effects?
Many people have no side effects from the vaccine. For those that do, common side effects may include soreness, redness and swelling where the vaccine was given. Fever, headache, muscle soreness, nausea and a rash that looks like measles and swelling of glands in the cheeks or neck can occur about 7 to 12 days after getting the vaccine. Temporary joint pain may occur in teenage and adult women.
Rarely, mor serious reactions can include seizures caused by fever (about 1 child in 3,000), a temporary drop in the blood cells that help prevent bleeding (about 1 person in 30,000), and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain (about 1 person in 1 million). The possibility of getting encephalitis from measles is about 1 in 1,000 which is much higher than from the vaccine.
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is an extremely rare possibility of anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue, or lips. The chance of true anaphylaxis is about 1 in 1 million vaccine doses. Should this reaction occur, your health care provider is prepared to treat it. Emergency treatment includes administration of epinephrine (adrenaline) and transfer by ambulance to the nearest emergency department. If symptoms develop after you leave the clinic, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. Learn more about anaphylaxis on our vaccine side effects page.
Who should not get the MMR vaccine?
- Have had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of measles, mumps, or rubella vaccine, or any component of the vaccine including gelatin or neomycin.
- Have an immune system weakened by disease or medical treatment.
- Have had a drop in platelets, the blood cells that help prevent bleeding, after getting a previous dose of MMR vaccine without another cause being identified.
- Have had a blood transfusion or received other blood products within the past 12 months.
- Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant? Women should avoid becoming pregnant for 1 month after getting the MMR vaccine.
ABOUT THE DISEASE
About mumps
- Mumps is a disease caused by the mumps virus.
- Mumps was a common childhood disease before immunization.
- Mumps is spread by coughing, sneezing, close face-to-face contact, or sharing items such as eating utensils or cups.
- Mumps causes fever, headaches, and swelling of the salivary glands and cheeks.
- More serious complications include encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
- Mumps can also cause temporary deafness. Permanent deafness occurs in less than 1 in 20,000 people with mumps.
- About 1 in 4 adult men and teenage boys with mumps have painful swelling of the testicles, and 1 in 20 women and teenage girls have swelling of the ovaries.
- About 1 in 20 people with mumps get mumps meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain.
MORE INFORMATION
Learn more
- Read the HealthLinkBC File: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine.
- Talk to your health care provider.