measles, mumps, rubella and varicella virus ... Health Article

Generic name(s):

measles, mumps, rubella and varicella virus vaccine

Brand name(s):

measles/mumps/rubella/varicella virus vaccine, ProQuad

What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?

The measles, mumps, rubella , and varicella vaccine is usually given only once when the child is between 12 months and 12 years old. If a booster dose is needed, At least 3 months should pass between the first and second doses of this vaccine.

Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this vaccine.

Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot. Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. If the child ever needs to receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella is much more dangerous to your child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Do not give your child salicylates such as aspirin, Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others for at least 6 weeks after receiving this vaccine. A serious condition called Reye's Syndrome has been reported in patients with chickenpox who take aspirin or salicylates.

What is measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella virus vaccine?

Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella are serious diseases caused by viruses. They are spread from person to person through the air.

Measles virus can cause minor symptoms such as skin rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, or mild fever. It can also cause more serious symptoms such as ear infection, pneumonia, seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.

Mumps virus causes fever, headache, and swollen glands, but more serious symptoms include hearing loss, and painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries. Mumps can cause breathing problems or meningitis, and these infections can be fatal.

Rubella virus (also called German Measles) causes skin rash, mild fever, and joint pain. Becoming infected with rubella during pregnancy can result in a miscarriage or serious birth defects.

Varicella (commonly known as chickenpox) is a common childhood disease that causes fever, skin rash, and a breakout of fluid-filled blisters on the skin. Most people who receive this vaccine will not get chickenpox, or will get only a mild case and will recover faster.

Chickenpox is usually mild, but it can be serious or even fatal in young infants and in adults. It can lead to severe skin infection, breathing problems, brain damage, or death. A person who has had chickenpox can develop herpes zoster (also called shingles) later in life, which causes severe nerve pain, and hearing or vision problems, which may last for months or years.

Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella are spread from person to person.

The measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine is used to help prevent these diseases in children.

This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small dose of the virus or a protein from the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine is for use in children between the ages of 12 months and 12 years old.

Like any vaccine, the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.