Doses
CDC recommends children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.
MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)
The MMR vaccine protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella.
Mumps is a contagious disease that is caused by a virus. It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Then most people will have swelling of their salivary glands (often referred to as parotitis when the parotid gland, located in front and below the ear, swells). This is what causes the puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.
Rubella is a contagious viral infection best known by its distinctive red rash. It’s also called German measles or three-day measles. While this infection may cause mild symptoms or even no symptoms in most people, it can cause serious problems for unborn babies whose mothers become infected during pregnancy. Rubella isn’t the same as measles, but the two illnesses share some symptoms, including the red rash. Rubella is caused by a different virus than measles.
Warning
- Complications from Mumps vaccine include deafness and a wide range of inflammatory conditions, of which inflammation of the testes, breasts, ovaries, pancreas, meninges, and brain are the most common.
- Testicular inflammation may result in reduced fertility and, rarely, sterility.
