The MMR vaccine is a live vaccine that is designed to inoculate people against the measles, mumps and rubella viruses. The vaccine is marketed under the brand name M-M-R II by Merck & Co., Inc.http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM093833 The MMR vaccine has been implicated as a cause of autism in children, however, the research backing this claim has been discredited.http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20110105/bmj-wakefield-autism-faq The man behind the study, Andrew Wakefield, continues to defend its validity, but ten of the co-authors of the study have repudiated it, and the study has been retracted by The Lancet, the publication in which the study was originally published.http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20110105/bmj-wakefield-autism-faq In January 2011, it was reported that the original study by Wakefield included allegedly fraudulent data and misrepresentations of the medical histories of the study participants.http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/andrew_wakefield/index.html?inline=nyt-per
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and a red rash. Complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis. Mumps is characterized by painful swollen salivary glands. Complications of mumps can include sterility in men, meningitis and deafness. The symptoms of rubella, which is also known as German measles, include a red rash on the face, swollen joints, and a mild fever. Most children recover from rubella, but it can cause birth defects in babies whose mothers contract the virus while pregnant.http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-vaccine
Usage
The MMR vaccine is given in two shots, the first when a child is between 12 and 15 months of age. The second shot is given to children when they are between four and six years old. People who are not sure if they have had the vaccination or the diseases it is designed to protect against can receive the vaccination as an adult.http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-vaccine
Side Effects
Side effects of the MMR vaccine can include:
- Redness or swelling at the site of injection
- Fever
- Swollen glands
- Rash
- Joint pain or joint stiffness
- Seizure
- Low platelet count or bleeding
- Encephalitishttp://children.webmd.com/vaccines/measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-vaccine
Dr. Rosemary Leonard on the MMR Vaccine
Emma Howard of Healthzone TV interviews Dr. Rosemary Leonard about the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine. Emma Howard prompts their discussion with a question from a viewer who asks why it is so difficult to find the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines separately. Dr. Leonard explains why this is and goes on to discuss recent concerns about the link between autism and the MMR vaccine.
Disclaimer
The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.
References
Fast Facts
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Brand name
M-M-R II
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Manufacturer
Merck & Co, Inc
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Vaccination for
Measles, mumps and rubella viruses
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Side effects
Soreness or redness at site of injection, fever, rash, swollen glands, seizure, joint pain or stiffness, encephalitis, low platelet count and bleeding
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FDA Warning
Use caution administering M-M-R II to persons with a history of conditions in which stress due to fever should be avoided (cerebral injury, individual or family histories of convulsions). Alert physician if temperature elevates following vaccination. Live measles vaccine and live mumps vaccine are produced in chick embryo cell culture. Persons with a history of immediate reactions after ingesting eggs may be at an enhanced risk of immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions.
