Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
Children should receive two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine at one year and with the pre-school booster at 3.5 years. You can check with your GP if you are unsure if your child has had these, and can always receive the MMR vaccination regardless of age. They are all very infectious and can develop into very serious conditions.
The MMR vaccine is very safe. Most side effects are mild and do not last long, it's important to remember that the possible complications of infectious conditions, such as measles, mumps and rubella, are much more serious.
Private clinics in the UK may offer single versions of this combined vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella. These vaccines are unfortunately unlicensed on the NHS. This means there are no checks on their safety and effectiveness and thus they cannot be recognised as part of standard scheduling. We will always offer children the combined vaccination in our clinics.
There is an alternative to the standard UK vaccination of MMR for those patients who cannot receive porcine-gelatine content vaccines. For those patients who require this alternative, please make us aware that you wish to use the Priorix alternative to the standard MMR VaxPro.
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes lead to serious complications. It's now uncommon in the UK because of the effectiveness of vaccination. Anyone can get measles if they have not been vaccinated or have not had it before, although it's most common in young children. The infection usually clears in around 7 to 10 days, but it can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications in some people. These include infections of the lungs (pneumonia) and brain (encephalitis) as well as blindness in children.
Mumps is most recognisable by the painful swellings in the side of the face under the ears (the parotid glands), giving a person with mumps a distinctive "hamster face" appearance. Other symptoms of mumps include headaches, joint pain, and a high temperature. Mumps usually passes without causing serious damage to a person's health. Serious complications are rare, but mumps can lead to viral meningitis if the virus moves into the outer layer of the brain. Other complications include swelling of the testicles or ovaries (if the affected person has gone through puberty).
Rubella (German Measles) is a rare illness that causes a spotty rash that starts behind the ears and can spread across the neck and body. It usually gets better in about 1 week. It can be serious if you get it when you're pregnant, especially early into pregnancy. It is very rare, but can lead to loss of the baby (miscarriage) or serious problems after the baby is born – such as problems with their sight, hearing, heart, or brain.
Current and Prospective 2021/22 Academic Year (MMR)
| MMR Community Catch-Ups (Year 7 and 8) | Running from April 2021 |
| MMR Community Catch-Ups (Year 10+) | Starting September 2021 |
Further information about these vaccinations can be found on the main NHS.uk webpage about Measles, Mumps and Rubella.
