Category
Description
Measles, mumps, and rubella
(MEE-zills and rue-BELL-a)
virus vaccine live is an active immunizing agent used to prevent infection
by the measles, mumps, and rubella viruses. It works by causing your body
to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the virus.
Measles (also known as coughing measles, hard measles, morbilli, red measles,
rubeola, and 10-day measles) is an infection that is easily spread from one
person to another. Infection with measles can cause serious problems, such
as stomach problems, pneumonia, ear infections, sinus problems, convulsions
(seizures), brain damage, and possibly death. The risk of serious complications
and death is greater for adults and infants than for children and teenagers.
Mumps is an infection that can cause serious problems, such as encephalitis
and meningitis, which affect the brain. In addition, adolescent boys and men
are very susceptible to a condition called orchitis, which causes pain and
swelling in the testicles and scrotum and, in rare cases, sterility. Also,
mumps infection can cause spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) in women during
the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Rubella (also known as German measles) is a serious infection that causes
miscarriages, stillbirths, or birth defects in unborn babies when pregnant
women get the disease.
While immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella is recommended for
all persons 12 months of age and older, it is especially important for women
of childbearing age and persons traveling outside the U.S.
If measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is to be given to a child, the child
should be at least 12 months of age. This is to make sure the measles vaccine
is effective. In a younger child, antibodies from the mother may interfere
with the effectiveness of the vaccine.
This vaccine should be administered only by or under the supervision of
your doctor or other health care professional. It is available in the following
dosage form:
Parenteral
-
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Brand Names
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.—
In Canada—
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