Importance of vaccines has been emphasised in countless history events relating to disease outbreaks. Vaccination in general helps to reduce risk for a person to catch an infectious disease and to lower the risk of getting complications that could end up in high morbidity or mortality. Vaccine is made with an active component called the antigen to generate the immune human body response or antibody towards certain common infections. Health screening may help a person understand more about infectious disease and get the right protection against it. One of the vaccines that we will be learning today is the mumps vaccine.

            Mumps vaccine or often found in the trivalent MMR vaccine is a vaccine containing antigens from 3 different viruses; Mumps, Measles and Rubella. Some countries may even have mumps vaccine in forms of monovalent vaccine or bivalent measles-mumps vaccine. This vaccine is used to prevent mumps diseases that is contagious from affecting others and to prevent serious complications such as inflammation to the brain (encephalitis) or sheath covering the brain (meningitis), inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) that may resulted in male’s infertility and hearing loss.

            Before going further on the mumps vaccine, what is actually mumps disease? Mumps is a contagious disease caused by the paramyxovirus that is spread from fluid of the nose or mouth when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It was common among children although adults may have been affected. Symptoms of mumps include fever, muscle aches, headache, fatigue and loss of appetite. During physical examination by a physician, swelling of the salivary glands in front and below the ear (parotitis) and swollen jaw can be found. Generally, mumps are mild and go away on their own. However, there is no specific medication that could treat this disease and complications of the mumps can cause debilitating health conditions. Hence, vaccines are introduced to prevent such events from happening.

            Mumps vaccine is made through production of viruses that grow in cell structures or in embryonated chicken eggs. The virus is then purified and formulated with stabilisers such as gelatine or sorbitol. Lyophilization process is done as the last step to preserve it from being ruined by temperature changes from the environment.

            As mentioned, mumps vaccine is usually found in the MMR vaccine. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended a child to get two doses of MMR vaccine, with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. In Malaysia, according to the Malaysian Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI), MMR vaccine is given at 1 year of age for the first dose and second booster dose at 6 through 7 years of age. MMR vaccine is given as a single injection to the thigh muscle for infants and in the arm muscle for older children.

            The MMR vaccine is very safe and effective. 95% of children who received two shots of MMR vaccine can be definitely protected from measles, mumps and rubella. Most children getting MMR shots usually do not get any side effects. Although, side effects are still possible but it is mild such as mild fever or pain, reddish skin and swelling at the injection side that is temporary. These can be treated with simple treatment such as giving pain relief medication such as liquid paracetamol and making sure the child can rest well comfortably by making sure they get plenty of fluid or not wearing too many layers of clothes and thick blankets. Any questions related to the vaccine should be addressed to the physician and if you or someone you know has missed the dose designated, do consult physician for rescheduling.