Vaccination is the only way to protect children from measles, a potentially dangerous disease. In the photo: a clinic in Kyrgyzstan UNICEF – on protecting children from measles, mumps and rubella Healthcare
Measles cases are rising in Europe and Central Asia due to reduced vaccination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. UNICEF answers frequently asked questions about measles, mumps, rubella and the MMR vaccine.
Children who are not fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine remain at greatest risk of contracting the measles virus, which can lead to pneumonia, lifelong brain damage, hearing loss, and even death.
The vast majority of doctors and scientists around the world recommend MMR vaccination and trust the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine. The MMR vaccine will help protect your child from measles, mumps, and rubella. UNICEF answers your questions about measles, mumps, rubella and the MMR vaccine.
What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Other people can become infected if they breathe in contaminated air or touch a contaminated surface and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.
The measles virus can live in the air for up to two hours. It is so contagious that if one person gets sick, up to 90 percent of the people around him who do not have immunity will become infected.
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Many people know measles because of the rash it causes. skin of an infected person, but the disease can also be accompanied by fever, cough and runny nose. In severe cases, measles leads to pneumonia, respiratory and neurological complications, and even death.
Symptoms of measles appear 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus and usually include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Measles rash appears 3-5 days after the first symptoms appear.
The best way to protect your child from measles is to make sure he or she receives the MMR vaccine (measles vaccine). mumps and rubella).
What is mumps?
Mumps is a highly contagious viral disease. It can be contracted from an infected person who sneezes or coughs near us. Additionally, the disease can be spread if an infected person touches their nose or mouth and then touches a surface that can then be touched by someone else.
Symptoms are often mild and usually appear within a few days. The most noticeable ones are swollen cheeks and neck pain in the area between the ear and jaw. Other symptoms include headache, mild fever, loss of appetite, sore throat, and pain when chewing.
However, mumps can also have serious consequences, including hearing loss, heart problems and damage to the brain and spinal cord. There is no cure for mumps.
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The best way to protect children from mumps is make sure they are vaccinated. The MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine is an extremely safe combination vaccine that can protect our children from all three diseases with just one injection.
Please vaccinate your child against dangerous diseases in a timely manner, in accordance with the national immunization schedule, and if you have questions about mumps and the MMR vaccine, talk to your child’s doctor.
The national calendar of preventive vaccinations adopted in your country can be obtained from your doctor or on the website of the Ministry of Health.
What is rubella?
Rubella is a contagious viral infection. It can be contracted if an infected person coughs or sneezes nearby. It can also be spread by touching a surface contaminated with the rubella virus after it has been touched by an infected person and then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Rubella used to be called “German measles,” and some people still call it that today, although it is not caused by the same virus that causes measles.
In young children, Those infected with rubella usually experience mild symptoms that appear within 2-3 weeks. The most common symptom is a red rash on certain parts of the body. Other symptoms include mild fever, nausea and mild conjunctivitis.
But for pregnant women who are not vaccinated against rubella, and for their developing fetus, rubella poses a serious danger. It is important that all women are protected against rubella before they become pregnant. Rubella causes the most serious damage when the mother becomes infected early in pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks (during the first trimester).
Unvaccinated pregnant women who become infected with rubella are at risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. Their developing fetuses are at risk of serious birth defects, including hearing impairment, eye and heart defects, and other lifelong functional disabilities such as autism, diabetes, and thyroid problems.
The best way to protect yourself from rubella and its consequences is to get vaccinated. Please follow the national immunization schedule to ensure you don’t miss or be late for vaccinations, and if you have any questions about rubella, contact your child’s health care provider.
The national calendar of preventive vaccinations adopted in your country can be obtained from your doctor or on the website of the Ministry of Health.
What is the MMR vaccine?
The MMR vaccine helps protect children against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). These diseases can cause serious harm to their health and even lead to death. This is why vaccination against them is so important to ensure that children grow up healthy and protected!
The MMR vaccine has been used since the 1970s and has been safely administered to more than 500 million children worldwide. to the whole world. It provides protection against three diseases with one shot. This means our children need fewer injections! Plus, fewer shots means less pain for the kids and less stress for us.
The MMR vaccine is given in two doses. The first is introduced after the child turns one year old (between 12 and 15 months of age), and the second at the age of 5 or 6 years.
Remember that by not vaccinating our children, we are putting them at risk of developing dangerous diseases that can lead to suffering, hospitalization and even death. Please check your national immunization schedule to know when your child should receive the MMR vaccine according to your country’s guidelines.
How the MMR vaccine is administered?
The MMR vaccine is administered subcutaneously to the child using a short needle. To ensure maximum protection against measles, mumps and rubella, children should receive two doses of MMR vaccine.
The exact time of administration of the MMR vaccine depends on the vaccination schedule adopted in your country. According to World Health Organization recommendations, in general, the first dose of MMR vaccine should be given around the child’s first birthday (12 to 15 months of age) and the second dose at 5 to 6 years of age.
If there is a measles outbreak (a sudden increase in the number of measles cases) in your country, or if you have visited a country with a high risk of measles transmission, your child may be recommended to receive the MMR vaccine before he or she reaches one year of age.
Remember that even if your baby received the MMR vaccine before his first birthday, he will still need two more doses of the vaccine after he reaches 12 months of age. national immunization schedule to ensure full protection against all three diseases.
Please check your national immunization schedule to know when your child should receive the MMR vaccine according to your country’s guidelines. Your country’s national immunization schedule can be obtained from your doctor or the Ministry of Health website.
Can my child receive MMR and other vaccines if he is allergic to eggs?
Yes. Children who are allergic to eggs can also receive the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. The vaccine contains only a trace amount of egg white and can be given even to children with severe forms of egg allergy such as anaphylaxis (difficulty breathing, fast heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, loss of consciousness).
As with any vaccine, children who have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of MMR vaccine or who are allergic to any component of the vaccine should avoid receiving MMR vaccine.
If your child simply does not like eggs or experiences diarrhea or abdominal pain after eating eggs, MMR vaccination should not be avoided or delayed.
The vaccine will help protect your child from dangerous diseases which may have life-threatening consequences. Specifically, measles can cause ear infections, pneumonia (pneumonia), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and even death.
If you are unsure whether When giving this vaccine to your child, please discuss this with the doctor or health care provider administering the vaccine.
Should your child be vaccinated if they have already had measles, mumps, or rubella?
Even if a child has already suffered one of these diseases in the past, he still needs to be vaccinated against them.
The MMR vaccine protects your child against three diseases (measles, mumps and rubella) with one injection. A history of exposure to one disease may not protect a child from all three.
Remember: Some diseases, including measles, can cause serious harm and leave a child’s immune system vulnerable for other infections. Therefore, vaccination is very important to strengthen the child’s body’s defenses even after illness.
Vaccines are designed to protect and are the safest choice for the health of our children. We all need to ensure that our children are up-to-date with the right vaccines to help them thrive!
Does the MMR vaccine cause autism?
No. Numerous studies have shown that the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and other vaccines do not cause autism. The link between the MMR vaccine and autism is a myth that continues to circulate on the Internet, while more and more research shows that it is completely wrong.
The MMR vaccine is safe and ensures our children are protected from measles, mumps and rubella. If we don’t vaccinate our children with the MMR vaccine, we put them at risk of contracting three dangerous (and even life-threatening) infections. In particular, measles can lead to the development of otitis media, pneumonia (pneumonia), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and even – in some cases – death.
Please don’t let myths stop you from protecting your child. Ensure your child is up to date with the appropriate vaccines in accordance with the national immunization schedule. This will help your baby grow up healthy and protected!
What are the possible side effects of the MMR vaccine?
Like Any other vaccine or drug, the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, may cause some side effects, but most are mild and temporary.
Vaccine COC is safe and effective, protecting our children from measles, mumps and rubella – dangerous diseases that can cause serious harm to health and even death.
Serious adverse reactions to The MMR vaccine is extremely rare, while the risks associated with the diseases it prevents are much higher.
The most common side effect of the MMR vaccine is arm pain after the injection , fever, mild rash, and temporary joint pain and stiffness. They can usually be managed at home by taking over-the-counter pain relievers as recommended by your doctor or by applying a cold compress to the injection site.
If any severe symptoms occur, it is highly unlikely that they were caused by the vaccine; in this case, you should seek medical help for your child. Please remember that the benefits of the MMR vaccine far outweigh the potential risks. However, if you have any concerns, discuss them with your child’s doctor.