Measles is a serious and highly contagious viral disease which causes fever, runny nose, cough and sore red eyes, followed by a rash. Measles can sometimes lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia. About one person in 2,000 who contracts measles will develop inflammation of the brain. For every ten people who become affected in this way, one will die and four will have permanent brain damage. Measles still causes deaths in Australia. A rare condition called SSPE can develop several years after a measles infection. SSPE rapidly destroys the brain and is always fatal.

Measles can be caught through coughs and sneezes from an infected person before that person realises they are sick.

All people born between 1966 and 1980 should check their immunisation status to ensure they have had a measles containing vaccine. If people in this age group do not have documentation (a personal immunisation record) of a measles containing vaccine, they should discuss having a dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine with their immunisation provider.

What are Mumps?

Mumps causes fever, headache and inflammation of the salivary glands. Occasionally it causes an infection of the membrane covering the brain, but permanent side effects are rare. The disease can also cause permanent deafness.
About one in five adolescent or adult males who contracts mumps develops a painful inflammation and swelling of the testicles. Males with this condition generally recover completely, but on rare occasions it may cause infertility.
Mumps can be caught through coughs and sneezes from an infected person before that person realises they are sick.

What is Rubella?

This is a mild childhood disease but it can also affect teenagers and adults. The disease causes swollen glands, joint pains and a rash on the face and neck which lasts two to three days. Recovery is always speedy and complete.
Rubella is most dangerous when a woman catches it in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. This can result in serious abnormalities in the newborn baby. Deafness, blindness, heart defects and intellectual disabilities can occur.
Rubella can be caught through coughs and sneezes from an infected person before that person realises they are sick.
Rubella is highly contagious and the best way to protect expectant mothers and their babies is to ensure that women are immunised before they become pregnant and to immunise all children to stop the spread of this infection.

There are two brands of MMR vaccine currently available, MMR II and Priorix. The MMR vaccine contains small amounts of each of the viruses at a reduced strength and a small amount of an antibiotic. MMR II also contains a small amount of pig gelatin which acts as a stabiliser. Priorix, the other brand of MMR vaccine, does not contain pig gelatin. Components of pig gelatin are used in the early stages of manufacture of this vaccine but are removed in subsequent stages. Those with religious objections to pig products may request the Priorix brand of vaccine.
The vaccine protects children against all three diseases and is usually given at 12 months of age. A second dose of the vaccine is given at four years of age. Women should be asked about their last menstrual period to ensure that they are not pregnant and advised that they should not become pregnant for one month following vaccination.
Women of child bearing age, especially those considering pregnancy, should see their doctor and have a blood test for rubella. The blood test will show if another MMR immunisation is needed. If you do require another MMR immunisation, a further blood test should be done after immunisation to ensure that the vaccine has provided protection. Women should not have the vaccine if they are already pregnant or might become pregnant within two months. It is important that women have a rubella blood test before each pregnancy to check that the level of protection is still adequate.

Possible Side Effects of MMR

Reactions to MMR vaccine are much less frequent than the complications of the diseases. The most common reactions are feeling unwell, a low grade fever and possibly a rash around six to eleven days after immunisation. People who develop the rash during this time are not infectious to others.
Occasionally, the person immunised may develop a mild swelling of the facial glands about three weeks after immunisation from the mumps component of the vaccine.
More serious reactions to the vaccine, such as inflammation of the brain, are very rare and probably occur at the rate of one in a million doses or less.
Common side effects can be reduced by:
· Drinking extra fluids.
· Not overdressing.
· Placing a cold wet cloth on the sore injection site.
· Taking (or giving your child) paracetamol to reduce any discomfort (note the recommended dose for the age of your child).
If reactions are severe or persistent, or if you are worried, contact your doctor or hospital.