MEASLESAND RUBELLA VIRUS VACCINE LIVE (Systemic)?
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
Generic name product may be available in Canada.
? Not commercially available in Canada.
Category
Description
Measles and rubella (MEE-zills and rue-BELL-a)virus vaccinelive is an active immunizing agent used to prevent infection by the measlesand rubella viruses. It works by causing your body to produce its own protection(antibodies) against the viruses.
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 pneumonia, ear infections, sinus problems, convulsions (seizures), braindamage, and possibly death. The risk of serious complications and death isgreater for adults and infants than for children and teenagers.
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 and rubella is recommended for all persons12 months of age and older, it is especially important for women of childbearingage and persons traveling outside the U.S.
If measles and rubella vaccine is to be given to a child, the child shouldbe at least 12 months of age. This is to make sure the measles vaccine iseffective. In a younger child, antibodies from the mother may prevent thevaccine from working.
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.)
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 and rubella vaccine, the following should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to measles and rubella vaccine, to the antibiotic neomycin,or to gelatin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergicto 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 havenot been shown to occur, use of measles and rubella vaccine during pregnancy,or becoming pregnant within 3 months after receiving the measles and rubellavaccine, is not recommended. Because the natural measles infection has beenshown to increase the chance of birth defects and other problems, it is thoughtthat the live virus vaccine might cause similar problems. Rubella vaccinecrosses the placenta. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionmonitored over 200 women who received the vaccine within 3 months before orafter becoming pregnant, and those women gave birth to normal babies.
Breast-feeding?Rubella vaccine virus passes into breast milk.However, this vaccine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children?Use of this vaccine is not recommended for infantsyounger than 12 months of age, unless the risk of measles infection is high.Waiting until children are at least 12 months of age is important becauseantibodies that infants receive from their mothers before birth may interferewith the effectiveness of the vaccine. In addition, there may be special reasonswhy children between 6 months and 12 months of age also may require measlesvaccination.
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 and rubella vaccine, it is especially important that your health careprofessional know if you have received any of the following:
- Cancer medicines or
- X-ray treatment?May reduce the useful effect of the vaccine
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of measles and rubella vaccine. Make sure youtell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Immune deficiency condition (or family history of)?Conditionmay increase the chance and severity of side effects of the vaccine and/ormay 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 following information includes only theaverage dose of measles and rubella vaccine.
- For injection dosage form:
- For prevention of measles 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 and rubella vaccine without first checking with your doctor.There may be a chance that this vaccine can cause birth defects.
Tell your doctor that you have received this vaccine:
- If you are to receive a tuberculin skin test within 4 to 6 weeksafter receiving this vaccine. The results of the test may be affected by thisvaccine.
- If you are to receive blood products or immune globulins within 14days of receiving this vaccine.
- If you are to receive this vaccine within 3 to 11 months of receivingblood products or immune globulins
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?rare
Difficultyin breathing or swallowing; hives; itching, especially of feet or hands; reddening ofskin, especially around ears; swelling of eyes, face,or inside of nose; unusual tiredness or weakness(sudden and severe)
Other side effects may occur that usually donot need medical attention. However, check with your doctor if any of thefollowing 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 may also occur insome patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Revised: 04/29/1997
