Measles, Mumps & Rubella Vaccination (MMR)

Should I get vaccinated?

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, also called the MMR vaccine, is recommended for everyone living in Australia. It is part of the National Immunisation Program for children, which means it’s free!

It’s a three-for-one! Three different diseases that are vaccinated against in a single jab.

Despite lots of people thinking that these are “common childhood diseases”, they can actually be quite serious and very unpleasant for your child. They are also very contagious.

High vaccination rates mean that we don’t have many cases within Australia, however it’s very easy for someone to bring a virus back from a holiday, which can then cause a localised outbreak. This means that getting vaccinated is an important part of your child’s health, and your own. The MMR jab is a vital vaccine for Africa, South America and most other places around the world.

Book an MMR vaccination

How do I get vaccinated?

The MMR vaccination is free for children and boosters are recommended for adults who are immunocompromised, travelling to areas with disease outbreaks or whose antibodies have dropped off.

It’s normally safe to receive an extra dose of the MMR vaccine if you’re not sure if you’ve had it. And our on-site Nurse Practitioner can do a simple blood test to see if you have immunity or not.

We can also help you with other childhood vaccinations, boosters and health advice.

Side effects

The MMR vaccine has been shown to be very safe. There is no evidence that it causes autism, or any other condition.

The vaccine can cause some mild side effects, such as soreness and swelling at the site of the injection, and small children may develop a mild fever or rash for a few days. Other side effects are usually limited to feeling a bit tired or having cold-like symptoms for a day or two.

Our highly-qualified team can talk you through the vaccine, potential side effects, and any concerns that you might have.

Measles symptoms & facts

The measles virus is a very contagious airborne virus, which means it can be easily transmitted by someone coughing or sneezing. People are infectious a couple of days before the rash shows, so you might be around someone who has measles, but doesn’t know it yet.

It causes symptoms such as:

The disease can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation. In young children, this can even cause permanent brain damage or death.

Mumps symptoms & facts

The mumps virus is also a highly contagious airborne virus. It travels person-to-person through the air and causes:

Although mumps is usually milder than measles, it can occasionally cause serious complications including deafness and inflammation of the brain, spinal cord, breasts, ovaries or testes. Testicular inflammation can cause fertility problems.

Rubella symptoms & facts

The rubella virus can be caught by airborne droplets, caused by someone coughing or sneezing. It can also be passed by direct contact with an infected person, or to a baby during pregnancy.

The disease causes:

It’s sometimes called “German measles”, but actually isn’t related to measles.

In most people symptoms are fairly mild, but it can be very dangerous to babies during pregnancy. If someone gets rubella at the beginning of their pregnancy, the baby is at a very high risk of serious and permanent birth defects. In some cases, the baby can die. So if you are planning a pregnancy, come in or call us for a quick chat. We can help you decide if you want a booster.

Preventing disease

Getting vaccinated and practicing good hygiene are the best ways to avoid getting sick with any of these viruses.

In addition, eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables of all different colours. This will make sure you get enough vitamins and minerals to keep your immune system strong.

You can get face masks, hand sanitiser, vitamin and mineral supplements and other supplies in the pharmacy.