MMR Vaccine, Measles, Mumps and Rubella

The City of Columbia is committed to providing public health services that prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, protect against environmental hazards, promote healthy behaviors, prevent injuries and illness, assure the quality and accessibility of health services, monitor the health of the population, provide social services and promote and protect civil rights.

The MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)

What is Measles?

Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus that grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs. Symptoms last for about seven days and include a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Complications can include diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, seizures and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), developing countries that are struggling with malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency, have had a growing problem with measles. In these areas it has been known to kill as many as one out of four people. It is the leading cause of blindness among African children and kills almost 1 million children in the world each year.

What is the Mumps?

The mumps is an acute viral illness. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and swelling of your salivary and parotid salivary glands. Your parotid salivary glands are located within your cheek, near your jaw line and below your ears. While complicates are rare, mumps can cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, spontaneous abortion and permanent deafness.

What is Rubella?

Also more commonly known as “German Measles,” rubella is an acute viral disease that causes a fever and rash for two to three days. It is spread by contact with an infected person, through coughing and sneezing.

What is the MMR Vaccine?

The MMR combination vaccine protects children from measles, mumps, and rubella. The first dose of the vaccine is usually given to children 12 to 15 months old. The second dose follows when the child is between 4 and 6 years of age.

Who should get the vaccine?

You should be vaccinated if you have not had a blood test that shows you are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella or if you have not already had two doses of MMR or one dose of MMR plus an additional measles vaccine.

This vaccine is not only for younger children but can also apply if:

You are a college student, trade school student, or other student beyond high school.
You work in a hospital or other medical facility.
You travel internationally, or are a passenger on a cruise ship.
You are a woman of childbearing age.

Where can I get the vaccine?

The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services has the MMR vaccine available . To be vaccinated, visit us.

Learn more about this vaccine.

Return to the Clinic & Nursing Webpage or the Columbia/Boone County Health Department Homepage.