MMR
Protect Yourself with Measles Mumps RubellaVaccine!
Measles is the most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses. The disease spreads very easily, so it is important to protect against infection. To prevent measles, children (and some adults) should be vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Mumps is a contagious disease that is caused by the mumps virus. Mumps typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, and is followed by swelling of salivary glands. Anyone who is not immune from either previous mumps infection or from vaccination can get mumps. Before the routine vaccination program was introduced in the United States, mumps was a common illness in infants, children and young adults. Because most people have now been vaccinated, mumps has become a rare disease in the United States.
Rubella is an acute viral disease that causes fever and rash for two to three days. It is spread by contact with an infected person, through coughing and sneezing. Complications such as birth defects may occur if acquired by a pregnant woman, including deafness, cataracts, heart defects, mental retardation and liver and spleen damage.
MMR vaccine
Two doses of this vaccine are needed for complete protection. Children should be given the first dose of MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age. The second dose can be given 4 weeks later, but is usually given before the start of kindergarten at 4 to 6 years of age. These are the recommended ages. But children can get the second dose at any age, as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose.
Most persons born before 1957 are assumed to be immune to measles, mumps, and rubella because of the likelihood that they had the natural diseases. But adults who are at increased risk for exposure to and transmission of measles, mumps, and rubella should receive special consideration for MMR vaccine. These persons include international travelers, persons attending colleges and other post-high school educational institutions, and persons who work at health-care facilities.
In addition, all women of childbearing age should be considered susceptible to rubella unless they have received at least one dose of MMR vaccine or other live rubella virus vaccine on or after their first birthday, or have serologic evidence of immunity. Birth before 1957 is not acceptable evidence of immunity for women who could become pregnant. Women of child-bearing age should be counseled not to become pregnant during the 4 weeks after receiving MMR vaccine.
If you are traveling outside of the U.S , visit: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/vaccinations.aspx
For more specific information related to MMR vaccine and other information you need before you travel.
Most of the above information was taken from:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/combo-vaccines/mmr/faqs-nipinfo-mmr.htm .
For more specific information, refer to the MMR Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) found at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-mmr.pdf
SHOTS, etc. offers a Patient Assistance Program for individuals who have no insurance and who meet financial guidelines. Certain vaccines may be obtained for a nominal injection fee. Visit www.SHOTSetc.com for details.