MMR Vaccination

The triple combination vaccine measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) also protects adolescents and adults against mumps, measles, and rubella. Most people are vaccinated as children. If you are unsure whether you have adequate vaccination protection, simply book an appointment to check your vaccination status at one of our avi practices and discuss this with our medical team. Our team will also check whether any further vaccinations need to be given or boosted.

The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends measles vaccination for all adults born after 1970 who have not been vaccinated against measles, or who were only vaccinated once in childhood. It particularly recommends vaccination for those working in healthcare services, community facilities (e.g. nurseries), or in the care of individuals with severely compromised immune systems.

Good to know: Under the Measles Protection Act, parents must provide evidence that their children aged one year and above have received the STIKO-recommended measles vaccinations before entering a community facility such as a nursery or school. A booster vaccination at a later stage is generally not required.

The MMR vaccine is a live vaccine. It is administered in the upper arm.

The vaccine is well tolerated. It is common for the body's immune response to cause redness or swelling at the injection site, which may also be painful. In the first three days after vaccination, general symptoms such as a mild rise in temperature, chills, headaches, fatigue, or gastrointestinal complaints may briefly occur. Such vaccine reactions usually resolve within one to three days.

As this is a vaccination with live, attenuated viruses, approximately two to five in every 100 vaccinated individuals may experience a transient, non-contagious "vaccine measles" reaction one to four weeks after vaccination: this is typically characterised by fever combined with a mild measles-like rash. In addition, the parotid glands or testes may swell and the joints may be painful. In adolescents and adults, more prolonged joint inflammation has also been observed.