It usually affects the lungs and can make your asthma worse. Since the introduction of the MMR vaccination in 1988 the number of measles cases has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1940. Mumps and rubella do not directly damage the lungs, however mumps can cause mild meningitis and if a pregnant woman catches rubella her baby may be harmed. The MMR vaccination is important for those groups of people that might be vulnerable to measles, mumps or rubella. It also includes some adults with severe asthma that were not given the vaccine when they were children.
Side effects are very rare.
If your child has had a definite previous serious reaction to eating eggs then we would recommend that you discuss this with your GP or paediatrician as the vaccine does contain small amounts of egg protein. Together with the clinician, you can then decide whether to have your child vaccinated. It is worth highlighting, however, that the risk of an allergic reaction to MMR is very small whereas the benefits of the vaccination are great. Whooping cough is an infection of the airways that can be particularly dangerous for children with asthma. Whooping cough vaccination is important for all young children.