MMR vaccination

Your mumps-measles-rubella vaccination with avi

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The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) triple combination vaccination also protects adolescents and adults from mumps, measles and rubella. Most people are vaccinated as children. If you are unsure whether you have vaccination protection, simply arrange one Vaccination status check appointment in one of our avi practices and talk to our team of doctors. In this context, our team is also checking whether further vaccinations need to be carried out or refreshed.

What are mumps, measles and rubella?

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measles and mumps are very contagious viral diseases that are widespread worldwide. An illness can cause serious complications and sequelae in both children, adolescents and adults. With rubella It is an infectious disease that often has no symptoms. However, rubella infection during pregnancy can cause serious damage to the unborn child. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) triple combination vaccination protects you against the diseases and their potential consequences.

Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases in humans. It is caused by measles viruses, which are common worldwide. Measles is transmitted from person to person, e.g. when sneezing or talking (droplet infection). Almost all people without appropriate immune protection fall ill after contact with the virus. That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) has set itself the goal of a world without measles patients.

More than half of measles cases in Germany today affect adolescents and adults up to around the end of 40 years. Flu-like symptoms such as high fever, cough and runny nose are typical. It is only a few days later that the typical measles rash develops, which starts on the face and behind the ears and then spreads all over the body.

Measles weaken the immune system over a longer period of time, i.e. even after recovery. Measles can lead to serious complications, especially in children under 5 years of age and adults over 20 years of age. These include inflammation of the middle ear or pneumonia and, more rarely, inflammation of the brain. In addition, a measles infection can also have long-term consequences.

Who and when should get the MMR vaccine?

The Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends that all adults born after 1970 who have not been vaccinated against measles or have only been vaccinated once during childhood, against measles. It also recommends vaccination in particular to all those who work in health services, in community facilities (e.g. kindergarten) or in the care of people with severely weakened immune systems.

Good to know: According to the Measles Protection Act, parents must prove that their children have received the measles vaccinations recommended by STIKO from the age of one year before joining a community institution such as kindergarten or school. A booster vaccination later on is usually not necessary.

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How is MMR vaccination carried out and what must be considered?

MMR vaccination is a live vaccine. The vaccination is carried out in the upper arm.

The vaccination is well tolerated. Stimulating the body's own immune system often causes redness or swelling at the injection site, which can also hurt. In the first three days after vaccination, general symptoms such as a moderate increase in temperature, chills, headaches, fatigue or gastrointestinal complaints may also occur. Such vaccination reactions usually subside after one to three days.

Since this is a vaccination with live, attenuated viruses, around two to five out of 100 vaccinated people experience temporarily non-contagious “vaccine measles” one to four weeks after vaccination: fever combined with a mild measles-like rash is typical of this. In addition, the parotid gland or testicles may swell and the joints may ache. Long-lasting joint inflammation has also been observed in adolescents and adults.

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