MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that children get two doses of MMR vaccine:

  • the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and
  • the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.

Teens and adults should also be up to date on MMR vaccinations.

Measles, mumps, and rubella are viral diseases that can have serious consequences. Before vaccines, these diseases were very common in the United States, especially among children. They are still common in many parts of the world.

Measles

  • Measles virus causes symptoms that can include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, commonly followed by a rash that covers the whole body.
  • Measles can lead to ear infections, diarrhea, and infection of the lungs (pneumonia). Rarely, measles can cause brain damage or death.

Mumps

  • Mumps virus causes fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides.
  • Mumps can lead to deafness, swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord covering (encephalitis or meningitis), painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and, very rarely, death.
  • Rubella (also known as German Measles) Rubella virus causes fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and eye irritation. Rubella can cause arthritis in up to half of teenage and adult women.

Is there anyone who should not get the Vaccine?

Tell your vaccine provider if the person getting the vaccine:

  • Has any severe, life-threatening allergies.
    A person who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of MMR vaccine, or has a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, may be advised not to be vaccinated. Ask your health care provider if you want information about vaccine components.
  • 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.
  • Has a weakened immune system due to disease (such as cancer or HIV/AIDS) or medical treatments (such as radiation, immunotherapy, steroids, or chemotherapy).
  • Has a parent, brother, or sister with a history of immune system problems.
  • Has ever had a condition that makes them bruise or bleed easily.
  • Has recently had a blood transfusion or received other blood products.  You might be advised to postpone MMR vaccination for 3 months or more.
  • Has tuberculosis.
  • Has gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks
  • Is not feeling well.  A mild illness, such as a cold, is usually not a reason to postpone a vaccination.  Someone who is moderately or severely ill should probably wait Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines can result in some side effects that may vary in severity.

Are there Side Effects?

There are different side effects that may be associated with getting the vaccine. Possible mild side effects include:

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of reactions. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible.
After MMR vaccination, a person might experience:
Minor events:
  • Sore arm from the injection
  • Fever
  • Redness or rash at the injection site
  • Swelling of glands in the cheeks or neck

If these events happen, they usually begin within 2 weeks after the shot. They occur less often after the second dose.

Serious events:

  • Seizure (jerking or staring) often associated with fever
  • Temporary pain and stiffness in the joints, mostly in teenage or adult women
  • Temporary low platelet count, which can cause unusual bleeding or bruising
  • Rash all over body
  • Deafness
  • Long-term seizures, coma, or lowered consciousness
  • Brain damage
  • Shoulder Injuries – (SIRVA)

If you experience any of these reactions, seek medical attention immediately.

How can I Report a Serious Reaction to the Vaccine?

Contact your health care provider immediately if you have a serious reaction to the flu vaccine. Your health care provider should report your reaction to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). You can also file a report yourself. All serious reactions should be reported, even if you aren’t sure it was caused by the flu vaccine. VAERS uses this data to help identify serious reactions that may need further investigation.

If your reaction results in a serious injury, you may qualify for compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).  Please contact Gold Law Firm, LLC. to discuss any possible vaccine injury.

In such cases, in which a vaccine injury leads to significant expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, you deserve compensation to help you recover and regain some measure of normalcy. Our law team will fight tirelessly to recover compensation through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, which provides payment to people seriously injured by vaccines.

Vaccine Injuries are rare, but real.  Because vaccine injuries occur, Congress started the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.  US Vaccine Law is the National Vaccine Injury Law Firm.  Vaccine Injury Law is all we do.