MMRV Vaccine

Measles is caused by the Measles virus and spreads through the air by droplet or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons, and less commonly, by articles soiled with nose and throat secretions. Affected persons will present initially with tiredness, fever, cough, red eyes and white spots inside the mouth. This is followed by a red blotchy skin rash 3-7 days later. The rash usually spreads from the face down to the rest of the body. In severe cases, middle ear, lungs and brain can get involved and lead to serious consequences or even death.

Mumps is caused by the Mumps virus which affects the salivary glands and sometimes the nerve tissue. It is spread by droplet and direct contact with the saliva of an infected person. The disease is characterized by painful swelling of the salivary glands, usually at the cheek(s), and fever. Sometimes, there may be complications like deafness, or infection of the brain. Adolescents might develop infection of the testicles or ovaries, which can affect fertility.

Rubella, also known as “German Measles”, is caused by Rubella virus. It can be transmitted by contact with secretions from nose and pharynx of infected persons through droplet spread or direct contact with patients. Symptoms are usually mild. Children usually present with fever, headache, diffuse rash and enlargement of lymph nodes behind the ears or in the neck. Sometimes there may be no symptom at all. Complications include arthritis, thrombocytopenia and encephalitis. Rubella infection produces anomalies in the developing fetus. Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is likely to occur in infants born to women who got infected during the first 3 months of pregnancy. CRS is characterized by deafness, blindness, heart malformations and mental retardation.

Varicella (also known as chickenpox) is a viral illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is highly contagious and is spread by airborne transmission of droplets from the respiratory tract or from the vesicle fluid of the skin lesions of chickenpox or herpes zoster infection. Affected persons present with fever and itchy rash. The rash usually develops over 5 days with formation of vesicles and appears first on the scalp and face, moves to the trunk and then to the limbs. The rash occurs mainly over the trunk. The vesicles are itchy, and then dry up and form a scab in around 3 days. Affected persons usually recover in 2 to 4 weeks. Varicella is usually a mild disease of childhood. It is more severe in adults and in individuals of any age with impaired immunity. The disease may be complicated by skin infection, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis and pneumonia. Infection in early pregnancy may be associated with congenital malformation of the fetus.

MMRV vaccine can effectively prevent Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella (also known as chicken pox). By combining vaccines that are traditionally separate (MMR and Varicella vaccine), MMRV vaccine (compared to MMR and Varicella vaccine) has enhanced immune response and can greatly reduce the number of vaccinations for children.