Measles/Mumps/Rubella Vaccine, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, injection; M-M-R II

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (a shot) to provide protection against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles).

What should my healthcare provider know before I receive this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• a reaction to other vaccine shots or any other medicine
• an allergic reaction to eggs or to gelatin
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or from cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, medicine to prevent rejection of organ transplants, or steroid medicine
• blood disorders or bone marrow disease such as leukemia or lymphoma
• tuberculosis (TB)
• seizures or a head injury
• a blood transfusion or treatment with immune globulin.

Tell your healthcare provider if you currently have an infection of any kind. If you are severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, wait until you recover before getting this vaccine. If you have a mild cold or other mild infection, you may still be able to get your shot.

This vaccine should be given at least 1 month before or after other types of vaccines. Tell your healthcare provider if you have recently had any other shots.

Females of childbearing age: This vaccine is not given to pregnant women. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not become pregnant for 3 months after you have this vaccine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This shot is given by your healthcare provider. The medicine is most effective when given before exposure to the disease.

Most children and some adults may need more than 1 shot. It is usually given to adults and children over 12 months old. Your healthcare provider will tell you how many shots you will need and when you should get them.

What should I watch out for?

If you have a serious reaction (hives, swelling in your mouth or throat, trouble breathing), contact your healthcare provider or get medical care right away.

This vaccine can temporarily reduce skin reactions to the TB test. The TB skin test should be given before this vaccine.

This medicine may cause a brief burning or stinging at the site of the shot. There may also be some redness or tenderness.

This medicine may cause a brief fever of 101° to 103°F (38° to 39°C). If the fever doesn't go away or goes above 103°F (39°C), contact your healthcare provider.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): High fever (over 103°F), bruising or purple spots on the skin, severe headache or stiff neck, unusual weakness, numbness in the arms or legs, trouble hearing, extreme fussiness.

Other: Mild fever, rash, headache, sore mouth or throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; redness, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given, sore muscles or joints, sore testicles, runny nose, cough.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also have an effect. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• arthritis medicines such as leflunomide (Arava), infliximab (Remicade), or methotrexate
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort)
• immune serum globulin
• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic)
• interferon
• medicines used to treat cancer such as cisplatin (Platinol), hydroxyurea (Hydrea), doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex, Doxil), vinblastine (Velban, Alkaban-AQ), and vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar)
• other vaccines

Keep a record of all vaccines received and when you received them.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.