Behavior of a child after MMR vaccination
What is the MMR vaccine , what are its ingredients , and most importantly: is a rash common after the MMR vaccine ? Can other post-vaccination symptoms occur? And when is the MMR vaccine not recommended? These are just some of the questions and concerns parents have about this mandatory vaccine for children. Everything you need to know about your child's behavior after the MMR vaccine can be found in the text below.
Accurate knowledge about childhood vaccinations is more important than ever. The MMR vaccine holds an important place in the vaccination calendar, so it's important to know what complications it protects your child against, how effective it is, and what medical contraindications there are to its administration.
MMR vaccine: composition
MMR is a three-component vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella . Its name is derived from the initials of the English names of these viral diseases (measles, mumps, rubella) . The MMR vaccine contains attenuated—meaning live but weakened—strains of the viruses . It is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
MMR: prevention is better than cure
Measles is a contagious disease characterized by high fever and a characteristic skin rash (lumps and reddish spots), conjunctivitis, and a dry cough. While its symptoms are usually mild, some children develop serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis, which can lead to permanent brain damage.
Mumps is also a contagious disease. It manifests as inflammation of the parotid glands. Fever, pain, and swelling occur in the pre-auricular area and the submandibular region below the auricle. The illness is usually mild, but some patients can experience very serious complications, including meningitis, encephalitis, deafness, pancreatitis, heart inflammation, and orchitis.
Rubella is also a contagious disease. It is usually mild, with fever and a characteristic skin rash being its main symptoms. Some patients may also experience runny noses. Complications are rare. However, if a pregnant woman contracts rubella, it can result in miscarriage, death, or severe fetal damage—this is known as congenital rubella syndrome.
Expert advises
Measles, mumps, and rubella are infectious viral diseases that are usually mild in children but can lead to serious complications. While such complications are rare, when they do occur, they can be very dangerous not only to a child's health but also to their life. How can we prevent these diseases and protect our children from serious complications? Vaccination is essential.
MMR vaccine: when and how to administer?
The MMR vaccination is one of the so-called mandatory vaccinations that have been included in the National Immunization Program (PSO) for many years.
The first dose is administered at 13-15 months of age, and the second at 6 years of age. This vaccination schedule ensures long-lasting immunity. In exceptional cases, the vaccine can be administered as early as 9 months of age – for example, when planning a trip to areas where measles is prevalent or before the child starts daycare. However, according to the vaccine manufacturer's recommendations, such patients require an additional dose at 2 years of age – ideally 3 months after the first dose, but no sooner than 4 weeks later.
Is the MMR vaccine effective and safe? Absolutely.
Expert advises
When two doses of the vaccine are given as recommended, the vaccine is 95-99% effective for measles and rubella and 80-95% for mumps. Immunity is long-term and possibly lifelong. It is rare for children to get sick despite immunization. If this happens, the disease is much milder.
Rash and other symptoms after MMR vaccination
Parents often ask about their child's behavior after the MMR vaccination, fearing possible complications. They want to know how common a rash is after the MMR vaccination. So, how do children tolerate the MMR vaccine—how do they behave after the vaccination? Fortunately, neither rash nor other post-vaccination symptoms are common, and if they do occur, they tend to be mild. Rare post-vaccination reactions include:
- Most often they are mild, transient redness, swelling and tenderness at the injection sitewhich may occur 1-2 days after vaccination;
- 6-12 days after vaccination may appear fever - even up to 39 degrees Celsius. It disappears within 1-2 days and is the result of the correct immunization process. If a child reacts to a fever with convulsions, a fever after vaccination may also cause it (1 in 3000-4000 vaccinated children);
- At the same time, which is 7-12 days after MMR vaccination, it may appear too characteristic rash - disappears after 2-3 days (5% of children),
- Gentle encephalitis can occur 5-15 days after vaccination in fewer than 1 child in a million vaccinated children - 1000 times less than after measles, and most importantly, it is inflammation it resolves spontaneously without permanent complications;
- As after any vaccination, it can also appear here Allergic reaction (1 in more than a million vaccinated). Fortunately, severe allergic reactions are extremely rare.
Can all children be immunized with MMR?
If an immunodeficiency is suspected or the child is taking medications that weaken the immune system (anticancer drugs, steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, transplant medications), it is essential to inform the doctor qualifying for vaccinations.
Expert advises
An allergy to chicken eggs is not a contraindication to vaccination . It is true that the vaccine is produced using a chicken embryo cell culture. However, only individuals who have previously experienced an anaphylactic reaction or other acute reactions (such as hives, swelling of the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing) after egg ingestion may experience post-vaccination hypersensitivity reactions. In such cases, the risk-benefit ratio should be considered before vaccination.
When is it certain not to vaccinate MMR?
If your child has severe immunodeficiency , this vaccine should not be administered . A child should also not be vaccinated after treatment with blood, plasma, immunoglobulins, or other blood products . The interval between vaccinations should then be 3-11 months. If severe side effects occur after the first dose, a second dose is not recommended.
MMR: harmful myths
Contrary to popular belief, the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine does not cause autism or inflammatory bowel disease . The MMR vaccine is safe and protects your child from the serious complications that measles, mumps, and rubella can cause.
Author
