The Diseases
- Measles. Measles is one of the most serious of childhood diseases. It can cause deafness, blindness, convulsions, other brain disorders and death.
- Mumps. Mumps is a virus that causes pain and swelling in the salivary glands of the face and neck. It can cause deafness, muscle weakness, seizures, brain disorders and painful testicular swelling in males.
- Rubella. Rubella or German measles is a common, mild infection of childhood. However, a pregnant woman who catches rubella is at much higher risk of giving birth to a child with birth defects.
The Vaccine: The vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella come as a combined vaccine. They are highly effective against preventing disease.
Side effects
- Fever and a rash in 5 to 15 percent of children 1 to 2 weeks after receiving the vaccine
- Joint aches in older children (1%)
- Mild fever after shot
- Brain inflammation (1 in 1,000,000)
- Swelling of neck glands (15%)
- Allergic reaction (rare)
Click here for the CDC's Vaccine Information Sheet on MMR vaccine.
