Information about MMR
The MMR vaccine is highly effective and it had been responsible for almost wiping out the three diseases since it was introduced in 1988.
Vaccination clinics
Measles cases are rising across London, so it is important that you and your children are up to date with the MMR vaccine.
We are running walk-in vaccination clinics across Lewisham in March and April where children and adults up to age 26 can be vaccinated. No appointment needed, just turn up.
- Saturday 13 April, 10am to 2pm: Downham Family Practice, BR1 5EP
- Monday 15 April, 9.30am to 5pm: St James’ Church, SE14 6AD
- Friday 19 April, 2pm to 5pm: Bellingham Youth Centre, SE6 3TT
You can also book an appointment with your GP if you’re unable to attend any of the clinics.
What is the MMR vaccine?
The MMR vaccine contains weakened versions of live measles, mumps and rubella viruses. Because the viruses are weakened, people who have recently had the vaccine cannot infect other people.
The vaccine is highly effective and will protect your child from becoming seriously unwell with measles, mumps and rubella. Two doses of the vaccine are needed to achieve long and lasting protection against these viruses.
Will the MMR vaccine have any side effects?
The three different viruses in the vaccine act at different times and may produce the following side effects:
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six to 10 days after the immunisation, some children may become feverish (this happens to about one in ten children) - some develop a measles-like rash and go off their food as the measles part of the vaccine starts to work
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about one in every 1,000 immunised children may have a fit caused by the fever - this is called a ‘febrile convulsion’ which most children come through unaffected, if a child has not been immunised and gets measles, they are five times more likely to have a fit
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rarely, children may get mumps-like symptoms (fever and swollen glands) about three weeks after their immunisation as the mumps part of the vaccine starts to work.
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children may very rarely get a rash of small bruise-like spots in the six weeks after the vaccination - this is usually caused by the measles or rubella parts of the vaccine; if you see spots like these, take your child to the doctor to be checked. He or she will tell you how to deal with the problem and protect your child in the future
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fewer than one child in a million is reported to have encephalitis (infection of the brain) after the MMR vaccine, there is very little evidence that it is the vaccine that causes encephalitis; however, if a child catches measles the chance of developing encephalitis is between one in 200 and one in 5,000
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in a study of over 8,000 children, there was no increased risk of convulsions, rash or joint pain in the months after the second dose of the MMR vaccination given between four and six years of age
How and when is the vaccine given?
People need to have two doses of this safe and effective vaccine. Ordinarily the first dose is given to a child at around 12 months of age after the immunity the baby got from their mother fades. In South East London, the second dose is normally given at 18 months of age – six months after the first dose. If your child hasn’t received one or both doses of the vaccine by this point, don’t worry. You can and should still get your child vaccinated. It’s never too late, and even adults can receive the vaccine if they weren’t immunised as a child. You arrange this through your GP.
What if my child is ill on the day of the clinic or appointment?
If your child has a minor illness without a fever, such as a cold, they should have their immunisations as normal. If your child is ill with a fever, put off the immunisation until the child has recovered. This is to avoid the fever being associated with the vaccine, or the vaccine increasing the fever your child already has.
What if my baby is allergic to eggs?
The MMR vaccine can safely be given to children who have had a severe allergy (anaphylactic reaction) to eggs. If you have concerns, talk to your health visitor, practice nurse or doctor.
Sorting the facts from the myths
Myth | Getting protection by catching the diseases is better than having the vaccine. |
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Fact | MMR immunisation is the safest way that parents can protect their children against measles, mumps and rubella – diseases that can be serious for babies, young children and their families. |
Myth | Giving three viruses at the same time is too much for young children's immune system |
Fact | A child’s immune system has huge capacity to deal with many more antigens than are in all the vaccines we use. Children can safely be given all of the combinations of vaccines that we use and will build a good response to these viruses. Over 500 million doses of MMR have been used in over 90 countries around the world since the early 1970s. The World Health Organization states that MMR is a highly effective vaccine with an outstanding safety record (WHO, 2001). |
Myth | Other countries around the world give MMR as three separate vaccines. |
| Fact | No country in the world recommends giving MMR vaccine as three separate injections. |
| Myth | Measles, mumps and rubella are rare in the UK so you don't need to immunise kids against them. |
| Fact | Children who are not immunised with MMR increase the chance that others will get the diseases. Before MMR, pregnant women would catch rubella from their own children. |
| Myth | MMR causes autism and bowel disease. |
| Fact | There is no evidence that the vaccine causes bowel disease and there is lots of evidence that it doesn’t. The evidence is that MMR vaccine does not cause autism or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There are now numerous studies that do not support a link between autism and IBD and the MMR vaccine (CSM, 1999; Gillberg and Heijbel, 1998; Taylor et al, 1999; Davis et al, 2001; DeWilde et al, 2001). |
| Myth | There was a scientific paper that showed a real link between MMR and autism and bowel disease. |
| Fact | The Wakefield et al study published in the Lancet in 1998 actually said: 'We did not prove an association between MMR vaccine and the syndrome described' and none of the studies since have found a link. Berelowitz, one of the contributors to the Wakefield study, has subsequently said: 'I am certainly not aware of any convincing evidence for the hypothesis of a link between MMR and autism...' (Berelowitz, 2001). |
| Myth | Giving the MMR vaccines separately reduces the risk of side effects. |
| Fact | Single vaccines in place of MMR put children and their families at increased and unnecessary risk. There is no difference between the risk of a single vaccine and of MMR. In fact there may be more risk from the single vaccines; we do not have any confidence that the crucial COLD-CHAIN has been in place for single vaccines, so these vaccines may not be effective. This could leave a child open to infection if the vaccine was not effective. The combined vaccine is safer as it reduces the risk of children catching the diseases while they are waiting for full immunisation cover. |
| Myth | The vaccine was not properly tested before it was licensed. |
| Fact | The normal procedure for licensing was used for MMR and the vaccine was thoroughly tested before being introduced into the UK in 1988. MMR is now probably the most-tested medicine in the world. Safety is constantly monitored. |
| Myth | My child has already received one dose so there is no need for a second one. |
| Fact | Two doses of MMR vaccine are needed to give children the best protection before they go to school. 85 to 90% of children do not respond to the first dose of the vaccine. 90% of those who did not respond to the first dose are protected by the second. Those with low antibodies after the first dose will be boosted. |
Get in touch
Lewisham Immunisation Helpline
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday