Written by admin on 2009-04-28T10:08:11+0000">April 28, 2009 – 10:08 am
The live triple measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine should be given to children at the age of 12 months. It confers long-term – probably lifelong – immunity against all three diseases.
Measles. Measles is a contagious viral disease that affects mainly the respiratory system, the eyes, and the skin. It is considered dangerous mainly because its complications can include pneumonia (infection of the lungs), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and ear infections. Because children are now vaccinated against it, measles is seldom seen today. The risk of a child contracting encephalitis from the vaccine is less than one in a million, and pneumonia and ear infections are never seen with immunization.
Mumps. Mumps is a contagious viral disease that causes swelling of the parotid glands, which are the saliva glands beneath the ear. Mumps can be painful and uncomfortable, but seldom has long-term complications. The most serious complication of mumps is encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) which can be followed by hearing loss or deafness. The mumps vaccine, which is included in the MMR vaccine, is harmless to the child and is 95 percent effective in preventing the disease.
Rubella. Rubella, or German measles, is a contagious viral disease that produces mild, cold-like symptoms and a short-lived rash. The disease is not usually dangerous except when it is contracted by a pregnant woman. In the first three to four months of the pregnancy, rubella can affect the unborn child and cause serious, lifelong problems. Now that the vaccine is available and routinely given to girls of 12-14 years, rubella is fairly uncommon. The last major outbreak was in 1964-65. However, a pregnant woman should take care to avoid exposure to the disease, and a child who contracts rubella should be kept away from anyone who is or might be pregnant. Very rarely, the rubella vaccine cause transient (temporary) arthritis in older children.
Vaccination against smallpox, a highly contagious disease that used to appear in epidemics, is no longer practiced in Australia. The risk of the live vaccine, although minimal, is still greater than the risk of contracting smallpox. The World Health Organization has announced that smallpox has been eradicated worldwide.
Other vaccines
Vaccines against typhoid, typhus, yellow fever, influenza, meningitis, hepatitis, and pneumonia are available. None of these is yet recommended for children except in instances when the child will be at special risk. Consult your doctor if you are in doubt. A vaccine against chicken pox is being worked on but is not yet available.
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