Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

Measles, mumps, and rubella are serious diseases.

Measles

  • Measles virus causes rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever.
  • It can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures (jerking and staring), brain damage, and death.

    • Mumps

  • Mumps virus causes fever, headache, and swollen glands.
  • May lead to deafness, meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord covering), painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and, rarely, death.

    • Rubella (German Measles)

  • Rubella virus causes rash, mild fever, and arthritis (mostly in 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.

    • Who should get the MMR vaccine and when?

    Children should get 2 doses of MMR vaccine:

  • The first at 12-15 months of age.
  • The second at 4-6 years of age.

    • ADULTS SHOULD GET A BOOSTER OF MMR VACCINE:

  • A second dose of MMR is recommended for adults who 1) have been recently exposed to measles or are in an outbreak setting; 2) have been vaccinated previously with killed measles vaccine; 3) have been vaccinated with an unknown type of measles vaccine during 1963–1967; 4) are students in postsecondary educational institutions; 5) work in a health care facility; or 6) PLAN TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY.

    For unvaccinated health care personnel born before 1957 who do not have other evidence of mumps immunity, administering 1 dose on a routine basis should be considered and administering a second dose during an outbreak should also be strongly considered.

    Measles component: Adults born before 1957 generally are considered immune to measles. Adults born during or after 1957 should receive 1 or more doses of MMR unless they have a medical contraindication, documentation of 1 or more doses, history of measles based on health care provider diagnosis, or laboratory evidence of immunity.

    Mumps component: Adults born before 1957 generally are considered immune to mumps. Adults born during or after 1957 should receive 1 dose of MMR unless they have a medical contraindication, history of mumps based on health care provider diagnosis, or laboratory evidence of immunity.

    • These are the recommended ages. But children can get the second dose at any age, as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose. Generally, anyone 18 years of age or older, who was born after 1956, should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine, unless they can show that they have had either the vaccines or the diseases.

    To link to the CDC for detailed information about the MMR vaccination, click here