What is it?
Mumps is a viral disease that can cause headache, fever, and swelling of the cheeks, neck, or jaw. Mumps can lead to hearing loss, meningitis (swelling of the covering of the brain and spinal cord), and brain damage. It is spread by coughing and sneezing.
What can I do?
The best way to protect your children is to have them vaccinated when they are 12–15 months old, and again when they are about to enter kindergarten.
Is it safe?
Yes, the MMR vaccine is safe. Thrombocytopenia (a non-life-threatening temporary decrease in blood platelets) occurs in about 1 in 30,000 people. Arthritis which is usually temporary can occur up to 1 in 4, usually teenage or adult women (not children). Severe allergic reactions to the MMR vaccine are rare. The best available science indicates that there is NO relation between the development of autism and the use of MMR or any other vaccine. Experts in behavioral and developmental disorders agree that autism is most likely a genetic disorder, although research continues on its exact cause.
|
Age > Vaccine |
6 months |
9 months |
12 months |
15 months |
4-6 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measles, Mumps, Rubella |
MMR§ | MMR* | MMR* | ||
| * - Your child should get the vaccine at this age or age range. If he misses a dose, get it as soon as possible. | § - Your child may need these vaccines if she has high-risk conditions. Ask your doctor or nurse for more information. |