Vaccinations

Rubella is also known as ‘German Measles’. It is an infectious disease 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, including fever, headache, skin rash and swollen glands behind the ears or in the neck. Sometimes there may be no symptom at all. Complications include arthritis (inflammation of the joint), thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Infants born to women who catch this infection during the first 3 months of pregnancy are likely to have Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). They may be blind or deaf, or have heart disease, mental retardation, or even die before birth. Women who do not have Rubella antibody should consider taking MMR®II vaccine before pregnancy.

If you are about to take MMR®II, please check if you have any of the following conditions. If so, you are not suitable to get vaccinated:

1. Allergic to any components of this vaccine, including gelatin, neomycin and egg

2. Immune system diseases, e.g. leukaemia, lymphoma, AIDS

3. Immunodeficiency in close family member(s)

4. On immunosuppression therapy, including high dose corticosteroid treatment

5. Untreated tuberculosis

6. Have received blood transfusion or human immune globulin within 11 months

7. Have received live vaccines in the past 4 weeks

8. Pregnant

9. High fever (>38.5ºC)

10. Current or past history of low platelet count

Precautions after MMR®II injection:

1. Contraception for 3 months.

2. If you have a history of head injury, individual or family histories of convulsions, the temperature elevation following vaccination may induce convulsion.

3. No live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks.

Common reactions after MMR^®II:

1. Fever.

2. Redness, swelling and pain at the injection site.

3. Rash.

Uncommon reactions after MMR^®II

1. Joint swelling and pain.

2. Bleeding or bruising under the skin.

3. Severe headache, seizures, a change in behavior or consciousness, or difficulty in walking.

4. Swollen salivary glands under the jaw.

5. 1 in 3 million chance of developing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord).

6. Difficulty in breathing, breathlessness, urticaria or rash may indicate allergy reaction.