The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, which were once prevalent childhood diseases. The vaccine is typically given to children after one year of age and again between ages four and six. The measles vaccine was developed in 1964, and the mumps and rubella vaccines followed in 1967 and 1969, respectively. The MMR vaccine is recommended for everyone, with few side effects.
The MMR vaccine is a combination vaccine created in the early 1970s to protect people from measles, mumps and rubella. These childhood diseases were very prevalent before the development of the MMR vaccine and have since been almost completely wiped out in many countries. This vaccine is typically given to children after they reach one year of age and again between ages four and six. The second dose is a precaution in case the first dose did not build immunity in the person who received it. Immunity to measles, mumps and rubella after receiving the vaccine should be lifelong.
In 1964, the measles vaccine was developed. It is thought that most people born before 1957 already have immunity to measles because the disease was so rampant at the time. It is an extremely contagious disease that causes cold and flu-like symptoms and can lead to more serious problems such as seizures, encephalitis and pneumonia. Over 450 people died from measles each year before the vaccine was introduced, and more than half a million required hospitalization. Since the vaccine has been available, most people who get measles are those who have refused the vaccine or received only one dose instead of two.
After the measles vaccine was created, the mumps vaccine came out in 1967. Mumps wasn’t as common as measles, but there were still hundreds of thousands of cases reported each year before the vaccine. Symptoms of mumps include swollen glands, fever, and headache. This disease can cause infertility in men who develop mumps after puberty from orchitis, which is severe inflammation of the testicles. Other serious complications can include deafness, encephalitis and meningitis.
In 1969, a vaccine was developed for rubella, also known as German measles. This condition is usually not as serious as mumps or measles, but it can be very dangerous to a pregnant mother’s unborn baby. Pregnant women who develop rubella have a higher risk of miscarriage and may have children with birth defects, mental retardation, heart problems, or other problems. In most cases, people who get rubella will only notice a slight fever and a reddish rash on their face, and some people may not have any symptoms at all. Since the vaccine was created, there has been a 99% decrease in the number of rubella cases reported each year.
Doctors recommend the MMR vaccine for everyone, unless a medical condition or medical treatment could cause an adverse reaction. A pregnant woman who has not already been vaccinated would have to wait until her baby is born to receive the vaccine. Adults and children who receive it may experience side effects, but they are usually very mild and go away quickly. The most common side effects are fever and rash, and these can occur up to 12 days after receiving the MMR vaccine. More serious side effects, such as seizures or bleeding problems, are extremely rare.
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