April 2007
Live measles, mumps & rubella vaccine (MMR)
When should my child not get MMR vaccine? Your child should not get MMR vaccine if she has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to:
When should my child wait to get MMR vaccine? If your child is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, she should usually wait until she is well
before getting MMR vaccine. Check with your child's doctor to see whether she should wait.
Tell your child's doctor if the child has any of the following conditions. The doctor may recommend that the child wait or not receive MMR vaccine. Ask your doctor for more information if your child:
What are the side effects from MMR vaccine and what should I do if they occur? A vaccine, like any medication, may cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of MMR vaccine causing
serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting any of these three diseases. Most
children who get MMR vaccine do not have any problems with it. MMR vaccine can cause other side effects. Call your child's
doctor if she has any unusual problems after receiving this vaccine.
- A previous dose of MMR vaccine
- Neomycin (an antibiotic)
- Gelatin
- Eggs
Tell your child's doctor if the child has any of the following conditions. The doctor may recommend that the child wait or not receive MMR vaccine. Ask your doctor for more information if your child:
- Has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
- Is being treated with medications that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for two weeks or longer
- Has any type of cancer
- Is receiving cancer treatment with X-rays or medications
- Has had a low platelet count (a blood disorder that may cause unusual bruising or bleeding)
- Has recently had a blood transfusion, immune globulin, or other blood products
- Has a history of seizures or any type of head or brain injury, or there is a family history of seizures
- Has had a reaction to any vaccine
| Side Effects (Mild) | What should I do? |
|---|---|
| Fever | Give acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) as directed by your child’s doctor |
| Mild rash | Call your child’s doctor if rash gets worse or does not go away |
| Swelling of the cheek or neck | Call your child’s doctor if the swelling gets worse or does not go away |
| Side Effects (Moderate or Severe) | What should I do? |
| Unusual changes in behavior | Call your child’s doctor |
| Serious allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; hoarseness or wheezing; hives; swelling of the face, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, or feet; paleness; weakness; fast heartbeat; or dizziness within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot) | Get emergency medical care for your child right away |
| High fever (usually within 1 or 2 weeks after the shot) | Call your child’s doctor right away |
| Seizure (jerking, twitching, shaking, or staring) caused by fever | Get emergency medical care for your child right away |
| Unusual bleeding or bruising | Call your child’s doctor right away. If severe, get emergency medical care for your child right away |
