MMR Vaccines

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)

These diseases spread from person to person through the air. You can easily catch them by being around someone who is already infected.

Measles

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

Mumps

• Mumps virus causes fever, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite, and swollen glands.
• It can lead to deafness, meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord covering), painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and rarely sterility.

Rubella (German Measles)

• Rubella virus causes rash, arthritis (mostly in women), and mild fever.
• If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.*

Frequency

Children should get 3 doses of MMR vaccine

• First Dose: 9-12 months of age

• Second Dose:  6 months after the first dose
• Booster dose at 4-6 years of age – This booster dose is yet to be included in the schedules followed at government centres, though IAP, ie Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends this to administer this to all children.

Advere Effects

MMR vaccine is a very safe vaccine. It is given in skin ie subcutaneously, so pain while giving is less as compared to intramuscular vaccines and soreness is also negligible at local site. Few children can have mild fever, which can be seen till 3rd day of vaccine also and easily manageable with routine paracetamol doses.

MR vaccine

MR means Measles & Rubella. This vaccine is used as a replacement of MMR vaccine in UIP i.e. the schedule followed at government centres across India. It does not include MUMPS which is part of the more comprehensive MMR combination easily available at an affordable cost.

MR campaign by Government from time to time- Click To read

*MMR vaccines for adults is especially recommended for all ladies, who have missed MMR vaccine or are not sure of the boosters after the age 4 years. A Lady should not be pregnant or plan a pregnancy within 4 weeks of taking the last dose of MMR vaccine.

AVAILABILITY IN INDIA

MMR vaccine is available in India by Names of PRIORIX (GSK) and TRESIVAC (Serum Institute of India). Both are approved for use and can be interchanged.