Signs and symptoms of MMR vaccine reactions

Measles, mumps and rubella are all very serious diseases, which each carry their own list of dangerous side effects.

Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a generalized, maculopapular, erythematous rash.

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that usually spreads through saliva and can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands. These glands, which produce saliva for the mouth, are found toward the back of each cheek, in the area between the ear and jaw. In cases of mumps, these glands typically swell and become painful.

Rubella — commonly known as German measles or 3-day measles — is an infection that primarily affects the skin and lymph nodes. It is caused by the rubella virus (not the same virus that causes measles), which is usually transmitted by droplets from the nose or throat that others breathe in. It can also pass through a pregnant woman’s bloodstream to infect her unborn child.

One way the US Federal Government and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend preventing the above diseases is to receive a vaccination against the three, better known as the MMR vaccine.

The vaccine is a mixture of three live attenuated viruses administered via injection. The shot is generally administered to children around the age of one year with a second dose before starting school. The second dose is not a booster; it is a dose to produce immunity in the small number of persons (2–5%) who fail to develop measles immunity after the first dose.

As stated, according to the CDC, the vaccine is the best way to prevent these diseases. The following information is taken from the VIS, Vaccine Information Statement, which outlines the potential adverse reactions as “recognized” by the CDC.

They state, “A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of MMR vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting any of these three diseases. Most people who get MMR vaccine do not have any problems with it.”

Mild Problems include a fever, a mild rash and swelling of glands in the cheeks or neck. However, the CDC believes if these problems occur, it is usually within 7-12 days after the shot. They occur less often after the second dose.

Moderate Problems recognized by the CDC are seizures (jerking or staring) caused by fever, temporary pain and stiffness in the joints, mostly in teenage or adult women and temporary low platelet count, which can cause a bleeding disorder.

They do list some severe problems, but they believe they are very rare. They include, a serious allergic reaction (less than 1 out of a million doses) and several other severe problems have been known to occur after a child gets MMR vaccine. But this happens so rarely experts cannot be sure whether they are caused by the vaccine or not. These include: deafness, long-term seizures, coma, or lowered consciousness and permanent brain damage.

As stated, this information is provided to the public in order to inform us of the potential adverse reactions with this vaccine. However, the CDC does not disclose all potential problems, some of which has been reported in literature that isn’t widely accepted by the CDC. There have been links to autoimmune disorders as well as nerve damage.

Unfortunately, it is a shame that these such things are not openly discussed and shared. If you are considering this vaccine, please be sure you are fully aware of ALL potential reactions.