by Katie Porterfield
November 29, 2011

What are Measles, Mumps & Rubella?
The MMR vaccine protects against three serious diseases with varying symptoms—measles, mumps, and rubella.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes measles as the most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses. In addition to fever and a overall rash, this highly contagious disease causes coughing, runny nose, and eye irritation. Measles can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death.

Also very contagious, mumps typically begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite followed by swollen glands. It can lead to deafness, meningitis, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and on rare occasions, death.

Known as the German Measles, rubella is a contagious viral disease that causes a rash and fever for two to three days.

Why should I vaccinate my child?
Before the measles vaccine became available in 1963, most children were infected with the illness before their 15th birthday. During each pre-vaccine year 48,000 people were hospitalized with measles, 7,000 had seizures, 1,000 suffered permanent brain damage or deafness, and 450 died. Today, in the U.S., there are about 50 cases of measles reported each year (that’s a greater than 99 percent reduction in measles compared to pre-vaccination numbers), and most of the cases are linked to travel outside the U.S. The CDC cautions that if immunization rates fall, the incidence of measles would return to pre-vaccination levels.

In fact, between January 1 and May 21, 2011, 118 cases of measles were reported in 23 states and the city of New York—the highest number of cases for that time period since 1996. Ninety percent of those affected were unvaccinated, including 45 U.S. children ranging in age from 12 months to 19 years. Parents of 24 of the children claimed a religious or personal exemption, and eight others intended to vaccinate their children, but missed opportunities to do so. Another 34 cases occurred in U.S. residents traveling in Europe or Southeast Asia, further evidence of the importance of vaccinations in the prevention of infectious disease. In response to the outbreaks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reiterated its vaccination guidance for individuals traveling abroad: Infants 6–11 months old should receive one dose of the MMR vaccine while children over 12 months of age and adults with no sign of immunity should receive two doses at least 28 days apart.

As many as 300,000 cases of mumps were reported each year in the U.S. before a vaccine was licensed in 1967. Since then, the number of cases has dropped significantly. In 2008, only 454 cases were reported, and even though outbreaks occurred in the U.S. in 2006 and 2009–10 (with more than 6,000 and 3,000 cases, respectively), numbers were still drastically lower than those in the pre-vaccination era. Still, these outbreaks prove that a recurrence of mumps is possible should immunization rates decline.

Rubella poses little danger to children or adults, since the disease is usually mild. The high-risk group is pregnant women and in turn, their unborn children—up to 90 percent of infants born to mothers infected with rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy will develop congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). CRS results in heart defects, cataracts, mental retardation, and deafness.

In 1964–1965, a rubella epidemic resulted in an estimated 11,250 miscarriages, 20,000 infants born with CRS, and 2,100 neonatal deaths. Among infants born with CRS, 11,600 were deaf, 3,580 were blind, and 1,800 were mentally retarded.

Since a rubella vaccine was licensed in 1969, the number of reported rubella cases has declined more than 99 percent—from 57,686 cases in 1969 to 10 cases in 2005, according to the CDC. As with measles and mumps, immunization against rubella will continue to limit infection rates.

The autism controversy
In 1998, a study by Andrew Wakefield erroneously claimed to have found a possible link between autism and the MMR vaccine (read more about this on baby gooroo here). As a result, frightened parents chose not to have their children vaccinated. Since then, the study’s conclusions have been refuted, and today, vaccine safety experts at the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics agree that the MMR vaccine is not responsible for recent increases in the number of children with autism.

How many doses will my child receive?
The MMR vaccine is given as a series of two shots (in the leg or arm).

In 2005, a combination vaccine that provides protection against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) was licensed for use among children 12 months to 12 years old. Using this combined MMRV vaccine, rather than using the chickenpox vaccine in conjunction with the MMR vaccines, will lower the number of shots your child must receive to be protected from these four diseases. The MMRV vaccine has, however, been associated with a higher risk for two side effects: fever and febrile (fever-related) seizures. For more information, visit the CDC website.

When is the vaccine given?
The CDC recommends that children get their first dose of the MMR vaccine between 12–15 months of age and their second dose between 4–6 years of age. Children can, however, receive the second dose at any time, as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose.

What are the possible side effects?
Most people who get the MMR vaccine have few or no side effects. However, the vaccine has been linked to fever (1 person out of 6); mild rash (1 person out of 20); and swelling of the glands in the cheeks or neck (rare). Such side effects usually occur within 7–12 days after the shot, and occur more often after the first dose than the second.

Moderate problems include febrile seizures (1 out of 3,000 doses); temporary pain and stiffness in the joints in teenage or adult women (1 out of 4); and temporary low platelet count, which can cause a bleeding disorder (1 out of 30,000 doses).

Other rare but serious problems associated with the MMR vaccine include deafness, long-term seizures, coma or lowered consciousness, and permanent brain damage.

When should I call a doctor?
Parents should immediately alert their child’s health care provider if their child experiences an allergic reaction (one out of a million doses). Signs of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, wheezing, hives, paleness, or swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes or feet. Such side effects would likely occur within a few minutes to a few hours of receiving the vaccination. Parents should also contact their child’s health care provider if the child displays unusual behavior or has a high fever (100° F or higher in newborns up to 6 weeks old, 102° F or higher in children 6 weeks to 2 years old, 103° F or higher in children age 2 or older).

Katie Porterfield is a freelance writer and former magazine editor in Nashville, Tennessee. She is mom to twin boys.