When does a refresher course have to be taken? | MMR vaccination (measles, mumps, rubella)

When does a refresher course have to be taken?

Basically a booster vaccination is not necessary, the 1st vaccination between the 11th and 14th month of the baby’s life is usually sufficient to cause a lifelong reaction of the immune system. Studies have shown that more than 95% of the vaccinated babies have already produced a sufficient number of antibodies against these pathogens after the 1st vaccination. Therefore, the 2nd vaccination is not, as is often assumed, intended to refresh the 1st vaccination, but to reach those babies for whom no antibodies were produced during the 1st vaccination – so-called vaccination failures. With this 2nd vaccination the success rate according to studies is over 99%, that a successful reaction of the immune system could be induced.

Side effects of MMR vaccination

Side effects that can occur after a vaccination are called short-term if they disappear within 72 hours. These include a local redness around the injection needle’s injection site, a slight swelling, as well as muscle soreness, both at the injection site. In addition, flu-like symptoms such as muscle and limb pain may occur.

These reactions are normal and to a certain extent necessary for the immune system to build up sufficient protection. Medium-term side effects are those that disappear after 1-4 weeks. In connection with the vaccination against mumps, measles and rubella, the so-called vaccination disease must be mentioned here.

The course of the disease against which the vaccination was administered is less severe. However, this can only happen with live vaccines.In about 2-5% of the vaccinated babies a vaccination disease is observed after the vaccination against measles, so-called vaccination measles. This causes a fleeting rash (exanthema) on the body, the parotid glands (parotis) may swell slightly and temperatures may be slightly elevated.

This form of measles disease is not contagious and is self-limiting. This means that the disease stops by itself without further therapeutic measures. All side effects beyond this with modern vaccines are extremely rare.

Severe complaints should therefore always be clarified by a doctor. The vaccination against measles is intended to prevent the sometimes fatal complications of a measles infection. Now, of course, the legitimate question arises: If the vaccination can also cause measles infection, as just described, are not the deadly complications as they occur in the case of an infection with the so-called wild type (pathogens occurring in the wild) of measles possible?

The most feared side effect of measles is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). This occurs about 2-10 years after infection with measles. SSPE is a generalized inflammation of the brain that is always fatal.

In children suffering from SSPE, however, the virus that was vaccinated has never been detected, but always the wild type, i.e. the measles virus found in the wild. Fever after a vaccination against mumps, measles and rubella is one of the normal complications of this vaccination, along with swelling and redness around the injection site of the injection needle and flu-like symptoms. These symptoms are usually of short duration and should not exceed 3 days.

If the fever is accompanied by a brownish-pink rash on the body after about 1-4 weeks, it is most likely due to vaccination measles. This form of measles disease is not contagious and self-limiting, which means that the disease will stop on its own without further therapeutic measures. If the fever cannot be lowered by common household remedies/pharmaceuticals and is very high for several days, you should consult a doctor.

Likewise one must also let exclude another illness, which is not connected with the inoculation, however coincidentally at the same time occurs, by a physician. A rash after a vaccination against mumps, measles and rubella is normal and can occur after 1 to 4 weeks after vaccination, it occurs in about 2-5 out of 100 of the vaccinated babies. It is either a redness at the injection needle’s injection site or a fleeting rash all over the body.

Brownish-pink spots are typical. If the whole body is affected, it is most likely the symptoms of the so-called vaccination measles. In addition to the rash, the parotid glands (parotis) may swell and the temperature may be slightly elevated.

This form of measles disease is not contagious and is self-limiting, which means that the disease stops of its own accord without further therapeutic measures. All other side effects of modern vaccines are extremely rare. Severe complaints should therefore always be clarified by a doctor.

In addition to the rash, a swelling of the parotid glands (parotis) as well as slightly elevated temperatures may occur. This form of measles disease is not contagious and is self-limiting, which means that the disease will stop of its own accord without further therapeutic measures. All other side effects of modern vaccines are extremely rare. Severe complaints should therefore always be clarified by a doctor.