MMR vaccine: benefits, schedule, and side effects

Giving immunization to children is one way of preventing dangerous infectious diseases from an early age. One type of vaccine that must be obtained by Indonesians is the MMR vaccine. This immunization is to protect children from disease Measles or measles,Mumps or mumps, and Rubella or German measles. Don't underestimate the three diseases, here is an explanation about the MMR vaccine.

What is the MMR vaccine?

The MMR vaccine is an effective way to prevent three diseases at once. MMR stands for three types of infectious diseases that are most susceptible to attacking children in their first year of life.

Children are the age group most susceptible to MMR infection because their immune systems are not as strong as adults. However, adults who have a weak immune system are also likely to be infected with one or more of these diseases.

Especially if adults did not get the MMR vaccine when they were young. The following is an explanation of measles, mumps, and rubella.

1.Meales (measles)

Measles or measles is a highly contagious viral infection that attacks the respiratory tract.

The virus that causes measles can very easily be spread through the droplets or mucus that comes out of the mouth of a person with measles when coughing or sneezing.

Measles is also easily transmitted from direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person or the habit of sharing personal items, such as borrowing utensils or drinking from the same glass.

Symptoms of measles to watch out for are:

• Red rash on the skin
• Cough
• The nose is blowing
• Fever
• White spots in the mouth (Koplik's spots)

Measles that is already severe can cause pneumonia in children (pneumonia), ear infections, and brain damage. Another fatal complication of measles is encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) which can cause convulsions in children and requires immunization.

2. Mumps (mumps)

Mumps (parotitis) or in Indonesia often referred to as mumps is an infectious viral infection that attacks the salivary glands. Anyone can be infected with mumps, but this disease usually occurs in children aged 2-12 years.

The virus that causes mumps is transmitted through saliva (saliva) which comes out with a breath of air when a person with mumps coughs or sneezes. In addition, your little one can also get this disease if you come into direct contact with or use someone who has mumps.

The most obvious symptom of mumps is the swelling of the salivary glands so that the cheek area and around the neck look round, swollen and enlarged. Here are other symptoms of mumps:

• Fever
• Headache
• Swelling of the salivary glands
• Muscle ache
• Pain when chewing or swallowing
• Pain in the face or on both sides of the cheeks
• Sore throat

Sometimes, the mumps virus can also cause inflammation of the testes, ovaries, pancreas, or meninges (the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord).

Deafness and meningitis are other risks of complications that may result from mumps. This condition makes everyone need the MMR vaccine as a preventive measure.

3. Rubella (German measles)

Rubella or often referred to as German measles is a rubella virus infection that causes the appearance of red rash spots on the skin. The virus that causes German measles also causes the lymph nodes in the neck and behind the ears to swell.

The signs and symptoms of rubella are often so mild that they can be difficult to notice, especially in children.

Symptoms of German measles in children usually begin to appear about 2-3 weeks after the body begins to be exposed to the virus. Here are the symptoms:

• Fever
• Headache
• Nasal congestion or runny nose
• Inflamed red eyes
• A subtle pink rash that starts on the face and quickly spreads to the torso, then to the arms and legs, before disappearing in the same order.
• The joints of the body hurt, especially in women.

Everyone is at risk for rubella. Rubella in children and adults generally gets better quickly, is not dangerous, and rarely causes fatal complications. German measles is only very dangerous if it occurs in pregnant women, especially in the first 4 months of pregnancy. If a woman becomes infected with rubella during early pregnancy, the baby is at risk of developing birth defects or even stillbirth.

Who needs to get the MMR vaccine?

Everyone is required to get the measles vaccine at least once in their lifetime. It should be noted that in Indonesia, the measles and German measles vaccines (MR vaccine) are deliberately separated from the mumps vaccine because mumps is less common.

However, that does not mean that this is an excuse for you not to get all three. The MMR vaccine is important for preventing measles, mumps and rubella which should be given to your child.

The following groups of people need to get the MMR vaccine:

Small children and toddlers

Based on the recommendation of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the MMR vaccine must be given to children from the age of 9 months to no later than 15 years.

Immunization that includes measles will also be included in the next routine vaccination schedule. Routine immunization schedules will be given to children aged 18 months and grade 1 SD equivalent (ages 6-7 years) or when a new child enters school, free of charge.

In addition, children aged 6-11 months who are traveling overseas must receive at least the first dose of MMR vaccine prior to departure. Before 12 months of age, children should also have received a second dose of vaccine.

Adults

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), adults aged 18 years should receive two doses of measles immunization at once. anytime if never had this vaccine before.

New adults are only required to follow-up immunization with 1 dose only if they can prove that they have received the vaccine or have had previous MMR disease.

Anyone 12 months of age or older who has received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine but is thought to have a high chance of developing mumps should get another mumps vaccine as soon as possible.

In all cases, the dose must be given at least 28 days after the first or second immunization is received.

What are the conditions that make children delay MMR immunization?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the disease control and prevention agency in the United States, there are certain groups of people who do not need to get the MMR vaccine.

These are people who cannot be protected by the vaccine directly, but can feel protection from MMR if the people around them have supplemented the vaccine.

This means that no one else can transmit MMR disease to them. This effect is called herd immunity . Here are the criteria:

• People who have had a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction to neomycin or other components of the vaccine.
• People who have had serious reactions to past doses of MMR or MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella).
• People who have cancer or are receiving cancer treatments that weaken the immune system.
• People have HIV / AIDS or other immune system disorders.
• People who receive any medicine that affects the immune system, such as steroids.
• People who are suffering from tuberculosis or tuberculosis.

Additionally, you may be allowed to postpone the MMR vaccine if you have the following conditions:

• Currently have chronic disease from moderate to severe stage.
• Are pregnant or in a pregnant program.
• Have recently had a blood transfusion or have a condition that makes you bleed or bruise easily.
• Have received vaccines for diseases other than MMR, in the past four weeks.

If you have questions about whether you or your little one should get the MMR vaccine, talk to your doctor.

What are the side effects of the MMR vaccine?

Vaccines are included in the type of drug so they can cause side effects. The reactions are usually mild and will go away on their own. However, in very rare cases, it can cause serious problems.

Side effects of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization are mild, such as:

• Pain at the injection site
• Mild fever
• Redness at the injection area

When this happens, it is usually started within two weeks of administering the MMR vaccine. The likelihood of getting side effects will decrease when this is your little one's second vaccine.

Meanwhile, other side effects that may arise but are very rare include:

• Seizures (wide eyes and jerks) that occur due to fever
• Rash all over the body
• Temporary low platelets
• Deaf
• Brain damage

These severe conditions only occur in 1 in 1 million MMR vaccines, so there is very little chance of causing serious injury.

The side effects of children who are not immunized are more dangerous because they do not have the immune system to fight infectious diseases.

The MMR vaccine does not cause autism

The MR or MMR vaccine is often associated with autism, but it is not. Based on information from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the side effects of the MR vaccine are generally only mild reactions.

Based on a study entitled The MMR Vaccine and Autism, these two things have no relationship. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder related to genetics before the baby is 1 year old.

So at the age before 1 year is when children are given the MMR vaccine. Based on epidemiological studies, the relationship between the two has not been found so far.

When to see a doctor

You need to take your child to the doctor when you experience severe side effects of the MMR vaccine. Especially if added if the child has signs of a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction, such as:

• Swollen face and throat
• Difficulty breathing
• Fast heart rate
• Fatigue
• Itchy rash

The signs above will usually start a few minutes to hours after the vaccine is given. When taking your child to the doctor, tell the medical staff that this is the first time your child has received the MMR vaccine. This will help the doctor identify the child's condition.

x