MMR Vaccine: What You Need to Know

The MMR vaccine, which helps prevent the measles, mumps, and rubella, has been no stranger to controversy. First licensed in the U.S. in 1971, the vaccine has been rumored to cause serious health risks in children, including autism and bowel disease. Yet, mounting research shows that the MMR has no connection with these conditions. Is it safe for your child?

Click "next" to learn more about the MMR vaccine.

What the MMR Vaccine Does

The MMR protects against three major diseases:

• Measles: causes rash, cough, runny nose, and fever; more serous is the risk of pneumonia, brain damage, and ear infections.
• Mumps: causes fever, headache, and swollen glands; more serious complications include deafness and meningitis.
• Rubella (German Measles): causes rash, mild fever, and arthritis; serious concerns for pregnant women include miscarriage or possible birth defects.

Who Should Get the MMR Vaccine

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommended ages for getting the MMR vaccine include:

• Children: 12-15 months old (first dose)
• Children: 4-6 years old (second dose)
• Adults: 18 years or older (born after 1956) should receive one dose 

Who Should Not Get the MMR Vaccine

The CDC provides a list of individuals who should not get the MMR vaccine. Criteria include:

• Having had previous life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, or to a past dose of MMR.
• Suffering a moderate-to-severe illness ( let the illness pass before getting a shot).
• Pregnant women.
• Having HIV/AIDS, or other immune system disorders.
• Having cancer or receiving cancer treatments.

The MMR Vaccine and Autism

Following widespread panic in Britain in the late 1990s, the country saw a decline in MMR vaccination rates when the vaccine was purported to cause autism. While autism cases grew in Britain during the 80s and 90s, they did not rise significantly, and the controversy remained mainly a U.K. concern. Subsequent articles published in The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and the Public Library of Science (PLoS) both reported no connection between the MMR vaccine and the development of autism.

Recent MMR Research

Several studies have examined the MMR-autism link—based on the increase of autism cases since 1979. The Western Journal of Medicine reports that “although the number of cases of autism diagnosed has been rising since 1979, no sudden increase in the incidence of autism occurred after the introduction of MMR. The increase in the number of cases of autism since 1979 is most likely due to changes in diagnostic criteria [and not the MMR vaccine].”

MMR Vaccine Side Effects

The Institute of Medicine, Medical Research Council, and World Health Organization all agree: there remains little supported evidence that the MMR vaccine causes autism. And while there are possible side effects, the CDC states that “getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting any of the three diseases.” Side effects range from minor to severe, spanning from fever and mild rash, to moderate concerns such as pain and stiffness of the joints, seizure, and low platelet count, to serious concerns, including allergic reaction.

Weighing the Risks

One in six children develops a fever following the MMR vaccine, with one in 3,000 developing febrile seizures. While parents fear for their child’s safety, medical professionals emphasize the benefits of immunization to fight possible outbreaks of measles and other diseases. According to The Western Journal of Medicine, “because one in 1,000 cases of measles is associated with encephalitis, the risk of this potentially deadly infection in children is also increased.” 

Learn More about MMR

According to the CDC, vaccines have significantly reduced the outbreaks of many preventable infectious diseases. Nevertheless, parents and patients concerned about the safety of vaccination should stay informed and always examine the risks and benefits of any medical procedure.

• The 6 Most Important Vaccines You Might Not Know About
• The Childhood Vaccine Injury Act
• Vaccines In-Depth