VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Many vaccine information statements are 

available in Spanish and other languages. 

See www.immunize.org/vis

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están 

disponibles en español y en muchos otros 

idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention 

MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and 

Rubella): What You Need to Know

1. Why get vaccinated?

MMR vaccine can prevent measles, mumps, 

and rubella.

 MEASLES (M) causes fever, cough, runny nose, 

and red, watery eyes, commonly followed by a rash 

that covers the whole body. It can lead to seizures 

(often associated with fever), ear infections, 

diarrhea, and pneumonia. Rarely, measles can 

cause brain damage or death.

 MUMPS (M) causes fever, headache, muscle 

aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen and 

tender salivary glands under the ears. It can lead to 

deafness, swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord 

covering, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, 

and, very rarely, death.

 RUBELLA (R) causes fever, sore throat, rash, 

headache, and eye irritation. It can cause arthritis 

in up to half of teenage and adult women. If a 

person gets rubella while they are pregnant, they 

could have a miscarriage or the baby could be born 

with serious birth defects.

Most people who are vaccinated with MMR will 

be protected for life. Vaccines and high rates of 

vaccination have made these diseases much less 

common in the United States.

2. MMR vaccine

Children need 2 doses of MMR vaccine, usually:

 First dose at age 12 through 15 months

 Second dose at age 4 through 6 years

Infants who will be traveling outside the United 

States when they are between 6 and 11 months of 

age should get a dose of MMR vaccine before travel. 

These children should still get 2 additional doses at 

the recommended ages for long-lasting protection.

Older children, adolescents, and adults also need 

1 or 2 doses of MMR vaccine if they are not already 

immune to measles, mumps, and rubella. Your 

health care provider can help you determine how 

many doses you need.

A third dose of MMR might be recommended for 

certain people in mumps outbreak situations.

MMR vaccine may be given at the same time as 

other vaccines. Children 12 months through 12 years 

of age might receive MMR vaccine together with 

varicella vaccine in a single shot, known as MMRV. 

Your health care provider can give you more 

information.

3. Talk with your health 

care provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting 

the vaccine:

 Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose 

of MMR or MMRV vaccine, or has any severe, 

life-threatening allergies

 Is pregnant or thinks they might be pregnant—

pregnant people should not get MMR vaccine

 Has a weakened immune system, or has a parent, 

brother, or sister with a history of hereditary or 

congenital immune system problems

 Has ever had a condition that makes him or her 

bruise or bleed easily

 Has recently had a blood transfusion or received 

other blood products

 Has tuberculosis

 Has gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks

In some cases, your health care provider may decide 

to postpone MMR vaccination until a future visit.
OFFICE 

USE 

ONLY

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

8/6/2021

Vaccine Information Statement

MMR Vaccine

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be 

vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill 

should usually wait until they recover before getting 

MMR vaccine.

Your health care provider can give you more 

information.

4. Risks of a vaccine reaction

 Sore arm from the injection or redness where the 

shot is given, fever, and a mild rash can happen 

after MMR vaccination.

 Swelling of the glands in the cheeks or neck or 

temporary pain and stiffness in the joints (mostly 

in teenage or adult women) sometimes occur after 

MMR vaccination.

 More serious reactions happen rarely. These can 

include seizures (often associated with fever) 

or temporary low platelet count that can cause 

unusual bleeding or bruising.

 In people with serious immune system problems, 

this vaccine may cause an infection that may be 

life-threatening. People with serious immune 

system problems should not get MMR vaccine.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, 

including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel 

dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance 

of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other 

serious injury, or death.

5. What if there is a serious 

problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the 

vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs 

of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the 

face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, 

dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person 

to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health 

care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine 

Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your 

health care provider will usually file this report, or 

you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS 

is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff 

members do not give medical advice.

6. The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines. Claims regarding alleged injury or 

death due to vaccination have a time limit for filing, 

which may be as short as two years. Visit the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation or 

call 1-800-338-2382 to learn about the program and 

about filing a claim.

7. How can I learn more?

 Ask your health care provider.

 Call your local or state health department.

 Visit the website of the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for vaccine package 

inserts and additional information at 

www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines.

 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

-Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

-Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines.