Diseases it protects from

• measles
• mumps
• rubella

Who should get this vaccine

The following people can get this vaccine:

• children starting at age 12 months who are not getting MMR-Var, the vaccine that also protects against varicella (chickenpox)
• younger babies (ages 6 to 11 months) who are having an organ transplant
• adults and children (including younger babies ages 6 to 11 months) who are travelling outside of Canada or to areas within Canada where measles is spreading
• adults and children age 13 years and older whose immunization records do not show they have had the recommended number of doses of measles, mumps, or rubella vaccines

Your healthcare provider may suggest you have the MMR vaccine if you are having a stem cell transplant.

This vaccine may also be recommended if you have contact with the measles virus and have not had all recommended doses of measles vaccine.

If a baby age 6 to 11 months gets this vaccine, it is considered off-label use. “Off-label use” means the vaccine is used differently than the way it was originally approved. Vaccine experts support using it this way and have no safety concerns.

Who may not be able to get this vaccine

You may not be able to get this vaccine if:

• You have an allergy to any part of the vaccine. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any allergies you may have.
• You had a severe (serious) or unusual side effect after this vaccine or one like it.
• You have a weak immune system (because of a medicine you take or a health problem).
• You have a family history of a weak immune system.
• You had a blood product in the past 11 months.
• You had another live vaccine in the past 6 weeks.
• You are pregnant.

If any of these apply, check with your healthcare provider or a public health nurse before you get the vaccine.

If you are planning to get pregnant, wait 1 month after getting this vaccine before you start trying to get pregnant.

Although you can get the vaccine if you have a mild illness, such as a cold or fever, you should stay home until you are feeling better to prevent spreading your illness to others.

Doses

The number of doses you get of the MMR vaccine depends on your age and risk of contact with these diseases.

Children – measles, mumps, rubella

Children need 2 doses of an MMR vaccine. As of January 1, 2021, children get their first dose at age 12 months and the second dose at age 18 months. Children may get the second dose earlier if they are travelling outside of Canada or to areas within Canada where measles is spreading, as long as it has been at least 4 weeks since their last dose of MMR.

Children usually get an MMR vaccine that is combined with the varicella vaccine (MMR-Var).

Any doses a child gets before age 12 months do not count towards the 2 doses that they need to protect them against these diseases.

Adults – measles and mumps

Adults born in 1970 or later need 2 doses of measles and mumps vaccine.

If you were born before 1970, you likely do not need this vaccine. That is because there is a high chance you had contact with measles and mumps when you were younger. Your body remembers these viruses and knows how to fight them.

You may need extra protection if you have a high risk of contact because of where you work, where you travel, or what you study (if you are a student).

If you are born before 1970 and are:

• a healthcare worker or a post-secondary healthcare student, you need 2 doses of a measles and mumps vaccine
• a post-secondary student (not in healthcare), you need 1 dose of a measles and mumps vaccine
• travelling outside of Canada or to areas within Canada where measles is spreading, you may need 1 dose of a measles vaccine

Adults – rubella

Adults born in 1957 or later need at least 1 dose of rubella vaccine.

Most adults born before 1957 are thought to be protected against rubella and do not need this vaccine.

You may need extra protection if you have a high risk of contact because of where you work. You will need 1 or more doses of this vaccine if you were born before 1957 and are a healthcare worker or a daycare worker.

Your healthcare provider may also suggest you get a second dose of rubella vaccine if a blood test shows that you are not protected.

If you are having an organ transplant, ask your healthcare provider how many doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine you need.

Other vaccines that protect against the same disease

The MMR-Var vaccine protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.

Get the vaccine

You can get the vaccine at your local public health or community health centre.

How well it works

After 1 dose, protection is about:

• 85% to 95% for measles (2 doses: almost 100%)
• 62% to 91% for mumps (2 doses: 76% to 95%)
• 95% for rubella

Safety

Vaccine safety is a top priority. Canada uses extremely safe vaccines. Learn more about vaccine safety in Canada, including how vaccines are monitored for continued safety, and ingredients in vaccines.

Side effects

There can be side effects from the MMR vaccine. They tend to be mild and go away in a few days, but side effects can happen up to 6 weeks after having this vaccine. They may include:

• redness where you had the needle that may look red on lighter skin or purple on darker skin
• swelling, or feeling sore where you had the needle
• burning or stinging where you had the needle for a short time
• getting upset easily
• trouble sleeping
• a fever
• body aches or sore joints
• red eyes
• an earache
• a rash that may be measles-like (a blotchy, red rash that may look red on lighter skin or purple or hard to see on darker skin)
• a sore throat, runny nose, or cough
• feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), stomach pain, vomiting (throwing up)
• loose stool (diarrhea) or hard stool (constipation)

At least 1 out of 100 people who got this vaccine reported 1 or more of these side effects. In some cases, it is unknown if the vaccine caused these side effects.

It is important to stay at the clinic for 15 minutes after your vaccine. Some people may have a rare but serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If anaphylaxis happens, you will get medicine to treat the symptoms.

It is rare to have a serious side effect after a vaccine. Call Health Link at 811 to report any serious or unusual side effects.

How to manage side effects

• To help with soreness and swelling, put a cool, wet cloth over the area where you had the needle.
• There is medicine to help with a fever or pain. Check with your healthcare provider if you're not sure what medicine or dose to take. Follow the directions on the package.
• Some people with health problems, such as a weak immune system, must call their healthcare provider if they get a fever. If you have been told to do this, call your healthcare provider even if you think the fever is from the vaccine.
• The rashes you could get after this vaccine are not contagious (you cannot spread them to others).

There can be mild, short-term side effects after getting a vaccine. Find tips to manage these side effects at home.