• Mumps is a virus that causes fever and painful swollen salivary glands (usually in the cheeks).
• About  25 percent of boys beyond puberty will have painful, inflammation of the testicles.
• About 5 percent of girls beyond puberty will have painful inflammation of the ovaries.
• Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) occurs in 10-20 percent of cases.  Usually there are no long lasting problems from mumps meningitis. Deafness or death occurs rarely.
  

• Rubella (German measles) is a virus that causes a red rash, fever, sore throat, headache, swollen lymph glands, and pain in the joints.
• Rarely, long-lasting inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or joints occurs.
• Rubella is very serious in women who are pregnant.
• Up to 90 percent of babies born to women infected with rubella could be affected.  They may be born with brain damage, deafness, heart defects, blindness, diabetes, small eyes ro small heads. Some may die.
• Protection against the disease for all chidlren at an early age is important to avoid getting the disease later in life or giving it to a pregnant woman.
  

• Get vaccinated.
• MMR vaccine is alive vaccine made of weakened forms of the three viruses along with amino acids, a small amount of neomycin (an antibiotic), lactose, human albumin, mannitol and sorbital (stabilizers).
• MMR is given by needle in the fleshy part of the arm.
  

• MMR vaccine is very effective.
• 99 percent of children given two doses of MMR vaccine started on or after their first birthday, given at least one month apart, should have lifelong immunity.
  

Children at 12 months of age, with a booster dose at 18 months.

• People with severe allergies to any of the vaccine components or who have had a previous anaphylactic reaction to MMR vaccine.
• People seroiusly ill, with or without a fever should delay immunization.
• Pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant within one month.
• Anyone who has a medical condition or is taking medication or having radiation theraphy that can weaken the immune system (i.e., person on high doses of corticosteroids, chemotheraphy) should check with their physician before being immunized.
• Immunization may need to be delayed for anyone who had immune globulin or received bllod products in the last several months. Check with your doctor or public health nurse.
  

• Allergy to eggs is no longer a reason to avoid being immunized.
• If you need another live vaccine, get it at the same time or wait at least a month.
• If you need TB skin testing, MMR vaccine should be given on the same day or wait 4 to 6 weeks after being immunized.
• Scientific studies have shown there is on link between MMR vaccine and autism or inflammatory bowel disease.
  

• Common short-term reactions include redness, swelling, hardness, stinging and tenderness at the injection site.
• A red rash that may cover the whole body five to 12 days after immunization occurs in about 5 per cent of people not immune to measles or rubella.  The rash disappears by itself and is not passed on to other people.
• Short-term swelling of lymph glands, especially in the head or neck, occurs in 5 per cent of those not immune to mumps.
• Fever over 39.4 degrees C (103 F) can occur in 5 to 15 percent of people. It usually begins 5 to 12 days after immunization and lasts one to two days.
• Swollen and painful joints are rare in children under 12, but more common in older children and adults.
• Rarely, loss of feeling, painful arms and legs, inflammation of the brain, or bleeding problems may occur.
  

• Report any adverse or unexpected reactions to your local public health nurse or your doctor as soon as possible.
• Talk to your pulic nurse if:
• you have questions or concerns about your child's reaction to immunization; or,
• you had to take your child to your doctor, hospital or health centre with an illness that might be related to the immunization.

NOTE:
Adults born since 1970 should consider getting MMR or MR immunization when:

• there is no medical confirmation of having had measles, mumps and rubella
• there is no history of immunization with MMR or MR vaccine.
• there is no immunity against these diseases.

For more information contact your local public health officer OR your physician.