Information updated March 2012

Measles, mumps and rubella are diseases caused by viruses.  The viruses are easily spread through the air by sneezing and coughing.

Measles (red measles) causes fever, rash and cold-like symptoms and can lead to ear infections or pneumonia (a lung infection).  More serious complications, occurring in 1 in 1,000 people, include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).  This can lead to seizures, deafness or permanent brain damage.  One in 3,000 people with measles can die from complications. 

Mumps causes fever, headache, and swelling of the salivary glands and cheeks.  More serious complications include encephalitis, which can lead to permanent brain damage.  About 1 in 20 people with mumps get meningitis (an infection of the lining that covers the brain and spinal cord).  Mumps can also cause temporary deafness.  Permanent deafness occurs in less than 5 in 100,000 people.  About 1 in 4 adult men and boys (after puberty) may develop painful swelling of the testicles. 

Rubella (German measles) causes fever, rash and headache.  Encephalitis occurs in 1 in 6,000 cases and occurs in a higher frequency in adults.  Rubella can cause serious complications and birth defects in an unborn baby including deafness, eye problems, heart defects, liver damage, and brain damage.  It occurs in 9 in 10 babies born to women who get within the first three months of their pregnancy.  Rubella can also cause miscarriage or stillbirth.

• Be immunized. The vaccine is very effective. Approximately 99% of children given two doses of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, started on or after their first birthday will have lifelong immunity.
• When you get your child immunized, you help protect others as well.
• Practice good hygiene (e.g. handwashing).

• The vaccine is given to children as a series of two doses. 

• Grade 6, 8 and 12 students that have not received two doses of MMR vaccine.
• Non-immune adults may qualify for 1 or 2 doses of MMR vaccine, depending on their year of birth, previous immunization history, and occupation and/or travel plans. Check with a healthcare provider for details.
• Women of childbearing age who are non-immune to rubella.

A mild illness, with or without a fever, is not a reason to avoid immunization.

• People who have a serious illness, with or without fever, should delay immunization.
• Persons who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or who have severe allergies to any of the vaccine components.
• Pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant within one month.
• Anyone who has a medical condition or is taking medication or having radiation therapy that can weaken the immune system (i.e., persons on high doses of corticosteroids, chemotherapy) should check with their physician before being immunized.
• Immunization may need to be delayed for anyone who had immune globulin or received blood products in the last 12 months. Check with your doctor or public health nurse.

Other Considerations:

• If you need another live vaccine, get it at the same time or wait at least one month.
• If you need TB skin testing, the vaccine should be given on the same day or you should wait 4 to 6 weeks after being immunized.

Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get measles, mumps or rubella disease.

• Common reactions to the vaccine may include soreness, redness and swelling at the injection site.
• A mild fever, a rash (that looks like measles) and swelling of the salivary glands and cheeks can occur about 7 to 12 days after getting the vaccine. 
• Temporary joint pain may occur in teenage and adult women.
• Rarely, febrile seizures, bleeding problems or inflammation of the brain may occur.
• It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. If this happens after you leave the clinic, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. This reaction can be treated, and occurs in less than one in one million people who get the vaccine.

• Report any adverse or unexpected reactions to your local public health nurse, your doctor or nurse practitioner as soon as possible.

Talk to your public health nurse if:

• You have questions or concerns about your or your child's reaction to immunization; or,
• You had to take your child to a doctor, hospital or health centre with an illness that might be related to the immunization.

MMR® II is a live attenuated vaccine that contains measles virus, Enders' Edmonston strain (live, attenuated); mumps virus, Jeryl Lynn® (B level) strain (live, attenuated); and rubella virus, Wistar RA 27/3 strain (live, attenuated).  Excipients: sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin, medium 199 with Hank's salts, sodium phosphate monobasic, sodium phosphate dibasic (anhydrous), sucrose, sodium bicarbonate, minimum essential medium (Eagle), potassium phosphate dibasic (anhydrous), neomycin, monosodium L-glutamate monohydrate, potassium phosphate monobasic, phenol red, water for injection.  Manufacturing process residuals: recombinant human albumin, fetal bovine serum.  Preservative-free.  Latex-free.

Your immunization information will be recorded in a computerized system known as the Saskatchewan Immunization Management System (SIMS). Information collected in SIMS may be used to:

• manage immunization records
• notify you if you or your child needs an immunization
• monitor how well vaccines work in preventing vaccine preventable diseases

Your immunization records may also be shared with health care professionals in order to provide public health services; assist with diagnosis and treatment; and to control the spread of vaccine preventable diseases.

For more information contact:
your local public health office
OR your physician
Or HealthLine at 1-877-800-0002.