The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, (abbreviated as MMR) protects against three potentially fatal diseases. It is recommended for people to administer two doses of MMR vaccine before planning international travel in the country where the outbreak is common. Keep reading to know why receiving the MMR vaccine in Worcester is significant.
At what ages do you get the MMR vaccine in Worcester?
The MMR vaccine protects against three viral infections that can rapidly transmit to non-immune children and adults who were not vaccinated or have not been exposed to any of these diseases.
As per the NHS vaccination schedule, two doses of MMR vaccine are most effective against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles).
- First dose: children one year of age
- Second dose: children three years and four months of age
If your child missed any of these two doses, you should get the advice of a GP to get the vaccination.
Particularly, if you have international travel plans, it is recommended to protect yourself from measles via two doses of the MMR vaccine.
The standard gap between each dose must be at least 28 days.
Is the MMR vaccine necessary for adults?
Measles is a highly contagious disease, and if you travel to places with high risk, you should get the MMR vaccine if you didn't receive the vaccine in your childhood.
Moreover, adults should be up to date on MMR vaccination with either 1 or 2 doses before or after the trip.
The number of doses depends on the severity of the risk and the immunisation history of the individual.
By getting vaccinated, you protect yourself and those who are potentially prone to getting the disease. Such as:
- Infants who can’t have vaccines because they are too young.
- Children or adults (with certain medical conditions) who have weak immunity and cannot have the vaccine as a result.
What is the MMR vaccine in Worcester given for?
A highly contagious virus such as measles used to be endemic decades ago. It directly attacks your immune system. The first symptoms are:
- Runny nose and cough with high temperature
- Sore red eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Rashes all over the body
The infection may lead to ear and chest, accompanied by diarrhoea and dehydration in younger children.
If immediate medical care is not given, the illness may cause meningitis and encephalitis (brain damage), which can eventually lead to death.
The MMR vaccination programme has declined the rate of morbidity and motility. It is a safe and effective combination to ensure the protection of your health when you’re travelling abroad.
What are the side effects of the MMR vaccine?
Before administration of any vaccine, it is thoroughly tested for safety. The side effects of each vaccination are less severe and daunting for health than the disease itself.
The common side effects involve:
- Redness, swelling, and itching at the site of injection for 2 to 3 days.
- Some infants or young children may suffer fever for 2 to 3 days after 7 to 10 days of injection.
How long is the MMR vaccine good for?
MMR vaccine is very effective and starts developing the protection against measles, mumps, and rubella around two weeks later.
MMR vaccination provides defence against the viral illnesses of measles and rubella for life so that you may travel anywhere in the world.
However, those vaccinated individuals who still catch the mumps are likely to not have severe complications.
Make an appointment at Worcester Travel Clinic to get the MMR vaccine before your trip.
