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Overview: The measles/mumps/rubella/varicella (MMRV) vaccine is used to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. It works by using weakened forms of viruses to trigger the body's immune response to make a type of protein (antibodies) that help protect against these infections. Common side effects include fever, crankiness, and rashes, along with pain, tenderness, redness, soreness, and swelling near where the needle went in. The MMRV vaccine is injected into a muscle or under the skin by a health care provider.

Uses

What is the MMRV vaccine used for?

The measles/mumps/rubella/varicella (MMRV) vaccine is commonly used to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.

  • Measles (M), also known as rubeola, is a contagious viral infection. It causes coughing, a runny nose, fever, and a full-body rash. It can lead to diarrhea, seizures, ear infections, and pneumonia. In rare cases, measles can cause brain damage or death.
  • Mumps (M) is also a contagious viral infection. It causes a fever, headache, tiredness, muscle aches, loss of appetite, and swollen, tender glands under the ears. Mumps can lead to serious complications including deafness, brain swelling, and in rare cases can cause death.
  • Rubella (R) is a contagious viral infection that causes a fever, sore throat, rashes, eye irritation, and headaches. It can cause arthritis in up to half of teenage and adult women. In pregnant women, rubella can cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects in the baby.
  • Varicella (V), also known as chickenpox, is a contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It causes an itchy rash, fever, tiredness, headache, and loss of appetite, and it can lead to complications such as skin infections, pneumonia, and bone and blood infections. After a chickenpox infection, the virus stays inactive in the body. It may reactivate later in life, causing shingles (herpes zoster). 

How does the MMRV vaccine work (mechanism of action)?

The MMRV vaccine is a live vaccine that contains weakened forms of the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella viruses. It triggers the body's immune response to make a type of protein (antibodies) that help protect against these infections. 

How should I store the MMRV vaccine?

The MMRV vaccine is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. You will not store it at home.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of the MMRV vaccine?

The most common side effects of the MMRV vaccine are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Pain, tenderness, redness, soreness, and swelling near where the needle went in
  • Fever 
  • Crankiness
  • Rash

There may be other side effects of the MMRV vaccine that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of the MMRV vaccine?

While less common, the most serious MMRV vaccine side effects are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. The MMRV vaccine may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown, depending on your skin tone
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Febrile Seizure. The MMRV vaccine can cause you to have a febrile seizure, which is a seizure caused or triggered by a fever. Symptoms may include convulsions (full-body shaking and twitching), fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or more, eye rolling, moaning, not responding, losing control of the bladder or bowels, and a bleeding mouth or tongue. If a febrile seizure happens, move your child to a safe place, like the floor, so they can’t fall. Roll your child on the side to avoid choking. If the seizure lasts less than a few minutes and your child is breathing and stable, call the child’s health care provider. Call 911 and get emergency help if any of the following symptoms happen. 

  • Seizure lasts more than five minutes
  • Struggling to breathe or turning blue
  • Only one part of the body is twitching
  • Odd behavior for an hour or more after the seizure
  • Another seizure happens within 24 hours 

Severely Low Platelet Levels. The MMRV vaccine can cause you to have a severely low number of platelets in your blood, also called thrombocytopenia. Platelets help to form blood clots. Having a low level of platelets may increase your risk of bleeding. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following symptoms of low platelet levels.

  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Bleeding that does not stop
  • Nosebleeds

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use the MMRV vaccine?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not get the MMRV vaccine.

  • Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine, live
  • MMRV
  • ProQuad
  • Gelatin 
  • Neomycin
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product received

Your health care provider can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific MMRV vaccine products they stock.

Weak Immune System. The MMRV vaccine should not be used if you have a weak immune system, get infections easily, or take medicines or treatments that suppress the immune system (such as radiation or chemotherapy).

Pregnancy. The MMRV vaccine should not be used if you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant within the next three months.

Fever. The MMRV vaccine should not be used if you have a fever of more than 101.3 F (38.5 C). You should wait until you recover from illness before getting the MMRV vaccine.

Tuberculosis. The MMRV vaccine should not be used if you currently have a tuberculosis infection.

What should I know about the MMRV vaccine before using it?

The MMRV vaccine is given on a specific schedule. Follow all vaccine recommendations given by your child’s health care provider.

The MMRV vaccine may affect the results of the tuberculin skin test, a test used to check for tuberculosis. For accurate results, the tuberculin skin test should be done either before getting the MMRV vaccine, at the same time, or at least four to six weeks after getting the vaccine.

For six weeks after getting the MMRV vaccine, avoid being near people who are not vaccinated, people (including pregnant women) who have not had chickenpox, people with a weak immune system, newborns of mothers who have not had chickenpox, and babies born before 28 weeks’ gestation.

After getting MMRV vaccine, avoid aspirin and other salicylates (such as diflunisal or salsalate, which is a medicine used for arthritis) for six weeks.

What should I tell my health care provider before getting the MMRV vaccine?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if the MMRV vaccine is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

  • Fever or recent illness, including tuberculosis
  • You have a weak immune system, get infections easily, or take medicines or treatments that suppress the immune system (such as radiation or chemotherapy)
  • Anyone in your household or family (parent or sibling) with a weak immune system or immune system problems
  • Low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia), or any condition that makes you bleed or bruise easily
  • Seizures or a family history of seizures, including febrile seizures
  • Received blood or plasma transfusions or human serum globulin

Vaccines. Talk with your health care provider about any vaccines that you may need. You should not get live vaccines right before or after getting the MMRV vaccine. Tell your health care provider about any vaccines you have recently gotten or have scheduled.

Egg Allergy. Tell your health care provider if you are allergic to eggs. People with an egg allergy may have a higher risk of having a reaction to the MMRV vaccine.

Other Medicines and Supplements. The MMRV vaccine may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before getting the MMRV vaccine, tell your child’s health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements they are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. The MMRV vaccine should not be used during pregnancy. You should avoid getting pregnant for three months after you get the MMRV vaccine. Call your health care provider if you were exposed to the MMRV vaccine during pregnancy or in the three months before becoming pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if the MMRV vaccine passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your health care provider will let you know if you should get the MMRV vaccine while breastfeeding.

Interactions

Does the MMRV vaccine interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between the MMRV vaccine and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect the MMRV vaccine.

Does the MMRV vaccine interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about all recent and upcoming vaccines; any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines; or vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before getting the MMRV vaccine.

  • Any medicines or treatments that suppress the immune system such as radiation, chemotherapy, or a corticosteroid, which is a medicine for certain inflammatory conditions
  • Immune globulin or any other blood product or transfusion
  • Aspirin, which is in many prescription and OTC products, including those for pain, swelling, and fever
  • A salicylate, such as diflunisal or salsalate, which is a medicine used for arthritis

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with the MMRV vaccine. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much MMRV vaccine?

If you or someone else has used too much MMRV vaccine, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of the MMRV vaccine?

If you miss an MMRV vaccine appointment, call to make another appointment as soon as possible. It is important to follow the vaccine schedule recommended by your child’s health care provider.