MMR vaccine (
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
vaccine) side effects, reaction in pregnancy
For the MMR vaccine
- The MMR vaccine protects most children from measles, mumps and rubella. It appears to be very safe for the vast majority of children.
- Unless the vaccines are given together and early on, there is a window between the injections when the child is still susceptible to the infection. Giving a combined vaccine sparesa child the trauma of three injections.
- Measles can be a very serious illness, and the risk of brain disease from it is 1 in 5,000, which is much higher than the risk of getting it from the vaccine (1 in 1 million).
- Before the introduction of mumps vaccine, mumps meningitis was the major cause of viral meningitis in children. Since MMR was started it has rarely been seen.
- Protection of the child gives what is known as herd immunity, which protects whole communities and thus prevents mothers in early pregnancy from contracting rubella and having damaged babies.
- The apparent increased incidence of Crolm's disease and autism may well be accounted for by better and more accurate diagnosis in recent years.
The balance would seem for most to be Vastly in favour of taking the slight risk of danger from the vaccine against the tiny risks that may affect the individual. However, parents would hate to feel that they had been guilty of subjecting their child to unnecessary dangers to protect others.
Those who feel that the risks of the injection are too high to accept should speak to a health professional before making a final decision.
MMR
|
