MMR Vaccination - Measles, Mumps and Rubella

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (also known as German measles) are highly infectious conditions that can have very serious and potentially fatal complications.

The MMR vaccine protects children from these viral infections and a single injection is given when your child is between 12 and 15 months old. It is part of the routine vaccination schedule, all of which can be viewed here.

A second pre-school booster usually given between the ages of 3-5 years as not everyone responds to the MMR vaccine the first time round (Around 10 in 100 children). However, after a second dose, this figure falls to less than 1 in 100 children.

Your child may experience some mild side effects after the vaccine, such as a high temperature or mild forms of measles or mumps. Some children can become irritable, get a skin rash or have swollen glands and usually recover quickly from these effects.

It is important to have the MMR as without it your child will be more likely to get measles, mumps, and rubella, and the serious complications each can cause. The MMR vaccine works very well and there’s no evidence that the MMR vaccine can cause long-term harm. It's important to make sure your children and yourself are up-to-date with MMR vaccination and it is good practice to keep a log book of all vaccinations and dates.