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MMR is a vaccine that contains strains of three viruses – measles, mumps and rubella. These strains are modified so as not to cause any side effects, and complications themselves are very rare. What complications may we face after the MMR vaccine? How does the MMR vaccine work? When and why should you take it?
Mandatory MMR vaccine
The MMR vaccine contains strains of three viruses at the same time – measles, mumps and rubella. This means that it is a combined vaccine that has a cumulative immunizing effect against several diseases. In Poland, MMR vaccination has been widely used since the mid-70s. Currently, MMR is included in the calendar of compulsory vaccinations for children and is performed in two doses – basic and supplementary.
Pressure on performing MMR vaccination results from high contagiousness and the risk of dangerous complications in patients with measles, mumps or rubella. Infection occurs via droplets, which is why these diseases spread quickly. Widespread vaccination increases herd immunity, thanks to which the incidence of these diseases and the mortality due to their complications has significantly decreased in recent decades.
The immunity achieved with the MMR vaccine is long-lasting. Even if an infection does occur, the patient will pass the disease mildly and will not experience life-threatening complications.
When should a child be immunized with MMR?
All parents in Poland are obliged to vaccinate their children ternary MMR vaccine. Recommendations for compulsory vaccines, including MMR, are included in the official vaccination schedule. It is updated by the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, so every year you should make sure that no significant changes have been introduced.
The first dose of the MMR vaccine is performed according to the vaccination schedule after the child reaches the age of 1 (13–14 months). Until now, the second dose was given when the child was 10 years old. According to the latest changes, from January 2019 second dose of MMR is to be given at the age of 6, with this change affecting children born in 2014. Older children will receive a booster dose at 10 years of age. Such compulsory vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella is free of charge. The child achieves full immunity and protection against measles, mumps and rubella after two doses of the MMR vaccine.
If the child has already suffered from one of the diseases – measles, mumps or rubella – you should wait about 4 weeks after complete healing and disappearance of symptoms. Only then can the MMR vaccine be given.
- See also: Mandatory vaccinations for children – what should you remember?
Who else should go to the MMR vaccine?
In some situations, MMR vaccination is also recommended for adults. However, it is not included in the group of reimbursed treatments, so you have to pay for them out of your own pocket (about PLN 70–130). They should be vaccinated:
- subjects who received only one dose of MMR vaccination;
- people who have never been vaccinated for measles, mumps or rubella;
- young women working in places at risk of spreading measles, mumps and rubella (hospitals, clinics, kindergartens, nurseries).
MMR vaccine – measles
Vaccination against measles was introduced due to the heavy transmission of the disease by children and the high mortality due to complications. Measles is one of the most contagious childhood diseases and is one of the world’s leading causes of death in children under the age of five. Such unfavorable statistics are the result of looking at the global situation, i.e. including countries where health care and the prevalence of vaccinations remain at a low level.
In Poland, due to compulsory vaccinations, cases of measles over the years were few and not fatal. In recent years, however, an increasing number of measles cases have been observed in Europe and Poland. This state of affairs can be the result refuse vaccinationswhich are happening more and more often.
- Read more: Where the anti-vaccine movements came from
Measles is a viral disease that causes complications in up to a third of patients. Diarrhea, otitis media and pneumonia are more common, life-threatening encephalitis and subacute sclerosing encephalitis are less common. On average, one person in a thousand will die of measles. Most often these are young children, as they are the ones who most often get measles.
MMR vaccine – mumps
The disease popularly known as mumps is different common parotitis. The disease mainly affects children, is caused by the mumps virus and is transmitted by airborne droplets. The mild form of this disease is associated with inflammation of the salivary glands with fever, malaise, and swelling around the ears and jaw (where the salivary glands are located), but it can also be asymptomatic. In rare cases, there are complications such as inflammation of the pancreas, meninges, brain, middle ear, and in boys also the testes and epididymis.
Mumps vaccination is coordinated with the MMR vaccine. The number of cases of widespread parotitis in Poland has clearly decreased since herd immunity began to increase as a result of the spread of vaccinations.
MMR vaccine – rubella
Rubella disease in adults and adolescents is usually asymptomatic. In some cases and in children, headaches appear and end, fever, conjunctivitis, rash, and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. It is usually mild, but complications such as thrombocytopenia and encephalitis sometimes occur.
Pregnant women are at particular risk of rubella as it then develops Congenital Rubella Syndrome in the fetus. The virus causes birth defects in babies and increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. If the expectant mother is vaccinated against rubella in childhood, the risk of future disease and infection of the fetus is significantly reduced.
MMR vaccine – contraindications
Although the MMR vaccine is very important and in principle the only method of preventing measles, mumps and rubella, not everyone can give it. Contraindications to the use of the MMR vaccine may be:
- very low immunity in a child. The vaccine should also not be administered when the child has been treated with blood preparations and in children who have haemorrhagic ecchymosis after the first dose of the vaccine. Vaccination should simply be postponed in children after treatment with blood products.
- an anaphylactic reaction after the first dose of the vaccine;
- allergy to gelatin or neomycin;
- hematological disease, e.g., lymphoma, leukemia, anemia;
- pregnancy – any vaccinations are not recommended in pregnant women;
- transfusion – is a temporary contraindication, a candidate for vaccination should consult a doctor to determine how long to wait;
- acute infection accompanied by high fever – another temporary contraindication to MMR vaccination; the person to be vaccinated should be healthy.
MMR vaccine – side effects
MMR is a safe and highly effective vaccine. Side effects occur very rarely and are similar to other vaccines. The main symptoms after vaccination include swelling, redness and pain at the injection site. Occasionally, a mild fever may appear, as well as a rash. Negative vaccine reactions (NOPs), including febrile seizures, skin bruising, allergic reactions, and mild encephalitis, are very rare and resolve without negative consequences.
No research studies show that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine leads to autism. The MMR vaccine is simply given at the stage of a child’s life when the first symptoms of autism may begin to show. However, there is no cause-and-effect relationship here, only time coincidence.