MMR Immunisation

What does MMR mean?

MMR stands for measles, mumps and rubella. These are three different diseases which are caused by three different viruses. The vaccines used to immunise against measles, mumps and rubella are all combined into one injection - the MMR vaccine.

Even if you think your child has already had one of these diseases your child should still have MMR immunisation.

Timetable for MMR immunisation

• The first dose of vaccine is usually given at about 13 months. It is usually given at the same time as the pneumoccocal vaccine (given as a separate injection).
• A second dose is usually given aged 3-5 years at the same time as the 'pre-school booster' of DTP-polio (given as a separate injection).

Even if a dose of MMR is delayed for any reason it can still be given at a later age. If necessary, MMR vaccine can be given at any age. For example, in the autumn of 2008 the Department of Health launched a 'catch up' campaign (details below).

Are there any side-effects?

Most children are perfectly well after having a dose of MMR vaccine. However:

• Some children develop a mild fever (temperature) and a faint rash 7-10 days later. This should only last for 2-3 days and is of no concern.
• A few children develop a mild swollen face (like a mild form of mumps) about three weeks later. Any swelling will gradually go down.

Neither of these reactions is infectious or serious. If necessary, you can give paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and fever. Serious reactions are very rare. Any reaction to the vaccine is much less after the second vaccine is given.

The MMR vaccine should not be given if you are pregnant. It is safe to give if you are breast feeding though. It is also safe to give if you are allergic to eggs.

MMR, Autism and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Recently there has been speculation that the MMR vaccine may somehow cause autism or inflammatory bowel disease. Recent large studies have all concluded that there is no evidence to link MMR immunisation to either of these conditions. For further information on this issue see www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk.

How serious are the illnesses prevented?

Measles

This is a highly infectious illness caused by the measles virus. Beginning like a bad cold, the child then develops a fever and a rash. The child feels miserable and may be unwell for a week or so with a bad cough and a high temperature. Complications occur in about 1 in 15 children with measles.

Measles is much more serious than many people think. In fact, of all childhood infections, it is the one most likely to cause the complication of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), sometimes resulting in brain damage. It can also cause convulsions, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia, which can lead to long-term lung problems. Each year a number of children die from measles. In developing countries it is a major cause of childhood death. Unfortunately, measles is becoming more common again in children in some areas of the UK. This is due to some children not receiving the MMR vaccine.

Mumps

This infection typically causes inflammation and swelling of the glands around the face, neck and jaw. It is usually a mild illness but complications occur in some children such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), orchitis (inflammation of the testes), meningitis and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Mumps may cause permanent deafness in one ear. Mumps is equally dangerous for boys and girls.

There has been a marked increase in mumps cases since 2003 in the UK. This is because some children did not receive the two doses of the vaccine or even never received it.

Rubella (German measles)

This is usually a mild illness causing a rash, sore throat and swollen glands. However, if a pregnant women has rubella, the virus is likely to cause serious damage to the unborn child. Rubella can lead to damage to the heart, brain, hearing and sight. The baby is likely to be born with a very serious condition called the congenital rubella syndrome. Since rubella immunisation was introduced in 1970 there has been a dramatic fall in the number of babies born with the congenital rubella syndrome.

The MMR Catch Up Programme

In the autumn of 2008 the Department of Health launched the 'MMR Catch Up Programme'. The aim is to immunise children of all ages who have missed one or both of their routine MMR immunisations.

Previous unfounded concerns (about autism and bowel disease) led to a low uptake of MMR vaccine over the last 10 years or so. Therefore, a reasonable number of children are not immunised or not fully immunised. Because of this there is concern of more cases of illness occurring, and in particular, a real risk of a large measles epidemic. It is thought that the only way to prevent the epidemic is to 'catch up' and offer immunisation to all children who are not fully immunised.

Further information

Information on immunisation

Web: www.immunisation.org.uk
From the NHS aimed at the general public.

MMR The facts

Web: www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk
From the NHS aimed at the general public. This website has been put together to answer any questions you might have about MMR.

MMR Catch up Programme

Letter from the Chief Medical Officer - August 2008

Rubella and MMR

Web: www.sense.org.uk/what_is_deafblindness/rubella_mmr/
Information about rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and immunisation against rubella from Sense. Sense was founded in 1955 as a support group for the parents of children born deafblind as a result of their mothers catching rubella in pregnancy.