Measles (red) is one of the most serious childhood diseases. It is caused by a virus. It causes a runny nose, sore eyes, high fever and rash.

Mumps disease is a childhood and sometimes an adult disease. It is cause by a virus. It causes fever, headaches and swollen cheeks. Mumps can also cause deafness.

Rubella (German measles) disease, caused by a virus, is worse in adults than in children. It causes a slight fever, rash, swollen neck glands and, sometimes in women, swollen joints.

What are the risks of getting diseases?

Measles (red). Of the children who get measles:

  • 1 in 10 will get an ear infection or pneumonia.
  • 1 in 1,000 may have encephalitis (brain inflammation) that can lead to convulsions, deafness or mental disabilities.
  • Of those who get measles disease, 1 in 3,000 will die from it.
  • Pregnant people with measles may have a miscarriage, or their child may be born with mental or physical handicaps.

Mumps. Of the children who get mumps disease:

  • 1 in 10 will develop a mild inflammation of the spinal cord and brain covering (meningitis)
  • In rare cases, a child’s brain may become inflamed (encephalitis)

Of adults who get mumps disease:

  • about 1 in 4 men with mumps will develop painfully swollen testicles
  • about 1 in 10 women will develop a very painful infection in their ovaries
  • Mumps can cause sterility (not able to have children)

Rubella (German measles). A few children who have rubella have a temporary low platelet count that can cause unusual bruising or can cause them to bleed easier. People who have rubella in the first 5 months of their pregnancy have an 80% chance of passing it on to their baby before birth. It can cause a miscarriage or the baby can be born with serious health issues (e.g., blindness, deafness or heart damage). About 1 in 10 babies born with rubella will die before they are 1 year old.

  • Due to outbreaks, Canada had 2,300 measles cases in 1995. After a 2-dose immunization program was introduced, there was an average of 11 cases a year from 2002-2006. Also:
  • 4 of every 5 cases of measles are in school-aged children
  • fewer than 200 cases of mumps disease are reported each year in Canada
  • fewer than 100 cases of rubella disease are reported each year in Canada

Getting the MMR vaccine is much safer than getting the diseases.

How well does the vaccine work?

  • 2 doses are needed to protect you for the rest of your life. About 5-10% of children are not protected with just 1 dose of vaccine.

What is in the vaccine?

  • There are tiny amounts of the measles, mumps and rubella viruses that have been weakened so they can’t give you the disease.

When is the vaccine given?

  • The first dose is given at 12 months old and the second dose anytime between 4-6 years old.
  • Adults born before 1970 may be immune to measles and mumps. Adults born after 1970 will likely need to be immunized with 1 dose of MMR. Some adults may require 2 doses.

What are the risks with immunization?

  • The vaccine has been used in Canada for over 30 years (since 1982 in Alberta).
  • There is no link between MMR immunization and autism. Large studies confirm that the rates of autism are the same in children who are given MMR immunization compared with those who are not.
  • Some side effects include:
    • redness, swelling and tenderness in the area where the needle was given
    • slight fever and/or a red, blotchy rash like measles for some people between 4 and 12 days after getting the vaccine.
  • As with any vaccine, unexpected or unusual reactions can happen. Severe allergic reactions are very rare (about 1 per 1 million doses of vaccine distributed in Canada).

The following people should not be immunized with the MMR vaccine:

  • people with a weakened immune system
  • pregnant people

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Revisions and additions should be directed to birthandbabies@albertahealthservices.ca