MEASLES,MUMPS, AND RUBELLA VIRUS VACCINE LIVE (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
In Canada?
Category
Description
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MEE-zills and rue-BELL-a)virus vaccine live is an active immunizing agent used to prevent infectionby the measles, mumps, and rubella viruses. It works by causing your bodyto produce its own protection (antibodies) against the virus.
Measles (also known as coughing measles, hard measles, morbilli, red measles,rubeola, and 10-day measles) is an infection that is easily spread from oneperson to another. Infection with measles can cause serious problems, suchas stomach problems, pneumonia, ear infections, sinus problems, convulsions(seizures), brain damage, and possibly death. The risk of serious complicationsand death is greater for adults and infants than for children and teenagers.
Mumps is an infection that can cause serious problems, such as encephalitisand meningitis, which affect the brain. In addition, adolescent boys and menare very susceptible to a condition called orchitis, which causes pain andswelling in the testicles and scrotum and, in rare cases, sterility. Also,mumps infection can cause spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) in women duringthe first 3 months of pregnancy.
Rubella (also known as German measles) is a serious infection that causesmiscarriages, stillbirths, or birth defects in unborn babies when pregnantwomen get the disease.
While immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella is recommended forall persons 12 months of age and older, it is especially important for womenof childbearing age and persons traveling outside the U.S.
If measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is to be given to a child, the childshould be at least 12 months of age. This is to make sure the measles vaccineis effective. In a younger child, antibodies from the mother may interferewith the effectiveness of the vaccine.
This vaccine should be administered only by or under the supervision ofyour doctor or other health care professional. It is available in the followingdosage form:
Parenteral- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Receiving This Vaccine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must beweighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctorwill make. For measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, the following should beconsidered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, to the antibioticneomycin, to gelatin, or to eggs. Also tell your health care professionalif you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives.
Pregnancy?Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you maybecome pregnant within 3 months after receiving this vaccine. Although adequatestudies have not been done in either humans or animals and problems have notbeen shown to occur, use of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine during pregnancy,or becoming pregnant within 3 months after receiving the measles, mumps, andrubella vaccine, is not recommended. Because the natural measles infectionhas been shown to increase the chance of birth defects and other problems,it is thought that the live virus vaccine may cause similar problems. Mumpsvaccine may infect the placenta, although the vaccine has not been shown toinfect the fetus or to cause birth defects. Rubella vaccine crosses the placenta.However, the Centers for Disease Control observed more than 200 women whoreceived the vaccine within 3 months before or after becoming pregnant andthose women gave birth to normal babies.
Breast-feeding?Mothers who are receiving measles, mumps, and rubellavaccine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctors,because rubella vaccine virus may pass into the breast milk and may causemild rubella infection in nursing babies. However, studies have not shownthat this infection causes any serious problems.
Children?Use is not recommended for infants younger than 12months of age, unless the risk of measles infection is high. Waiting untilchildren are at least 12 months of age is important because antibodies thatinfants receive from their mothers before birth may interfere with the effectivenessof the vaccine. There may be special reasons why children between 6 monthsand 12 months of age also may require measles vaccination.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Before you receivemeasles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, it is especially important that yourhealth care professional know if you have received any of the following:
- Cancer medicines or
- Radiation therapy?May reduce the useful effect of the vaccine
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. Make sureyou tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Immune deficiency condition (or family history of)?Conditionmay increase the chance of developing side effects and the severity of sideeffects of the vaccine and/or may decrease the useful effects of the vaccine
- Severe illness with fever?The symptoms of the condition maybe confused with the possible side effects of the vaccine
Proper Use of This Vaccine
Dosing?The dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinewill be different for different patients. The following information includesonly the average dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
- For injection dosage form:
- For prevention of measles, mumps, and rubella:
- Adults and children 12 months of age and older?One dose injectedunder the skin.
- Children up to 12 months of age?Use is not recommended.
Precautions After Receiving This Vaccine
Do not become pregnant for 3 months after receivingmeasles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. There is a chance that this vaccinemay cause birth defects.
Tell your doctor that you have received this vaccine:
- If you are to receive a tuberculin skin test within 8 weeks afterreceiving this vaccine. The results of the test may be affected by this vaccine.
- If you are to receive any other live virus vaccines within 1 monthafter receiving this vaccine.
- If you are to receive blood transfusions or other blood productswithin 2 weeks after receiving this vaccine.
- If you are to receive gamma globulin or other globulins within 2weeks after receiving this vaccine.
Side Effects of This Vaccine
Along with its needed effects, a vaccine maycause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur,if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Symptoms of allergic reaction
Difficulty in breathing or swallowing; hives; itching, especially of feet or hands; reddening of skin, especially around ears; swelling of eyes, face, or inside of nose; unusualtiredness or weakness (sudden and severe)
Other side effects may occurthat usually do not need medical attention. However, check with your doctorif any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
Less common
Aches or pain in joints; headache (mild); itching, swelling, redness, tenderness, or hardlump at place of injection; nausea; runny nose; sore throat; vague feeling of bodily discomfort
The above side effects (especially aches or pain in joints) are more likelyto occur in adults, particularly women.
Other side effects not listed above also may occur insome patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Revised: 04/15/1999
