Measles, mumps and rubella frequently causes serious illness and even death, or, in the case of rubella, serious complications if contracted during pregnancy.

Measles is a very contagious viral illness which causes people to be very ill during the illness and is associated with serious complications of brain inflammation and pneumonia. Death from complications at the time or brain degeneration over a number of years occurs in 1 in 10,000 cases.

The Vaccine:

The MMR is a live vaccine.

The MMR vaccine is on the Australian Immunization Schedule for Children and is given at 12   months of age and a booster at 18 months.

​​There is no evidence of any link between autism and inflammatory bowel disease and MMR vaccination.

Recommended for:

The MMR vaccine is on the Australian Immunisation Schedule for Children

All adolescents and adults born during or since 1966 are recommended to receive 2 doses of measles containing vaccine.
People born before 1966 do not need to receive measles containing vaccine (unless a blood test shows no immunity) This is because measles was prevalent before 1966 and  most people would have acquired immunity from a natural source.


​The following people should NOT be vaccinated :

• Women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant within 2 months.
• People with untreated malignancy or reduced immunity (including AIDS).
• People on very high dose steroids.
• Those who have had a severe allergic reaction to neomycin or gelatin.
• Those with an inter-current febrile illness.
• Within 1 month of another live vaccine (except oral polio).
• Within 3 months of a blood transfusion or immunoglobulin injection.

Allergy to eggs is NOT a contraindication.

Adverse Reactions:

Reactions to the vaccine are uncommon, although one in ten people will develop discomfort at the site of the injection and may feel off-colour and 1% of people develop a slight rash or joint pains.

In rare circumstances, (1 in 1,000,000), mild, self-limiting encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) may develop.

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