The risk of MMR causing serious harm is extremely small. MMR is considerably safer than getting measles (or mumps and rubella). See the following comparison.
1 to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles will die in developed countries.
1 in 10 people with measles will get complications including:
Measles in pregnancy increases risk for premature labour, miscarriage and stillbirth.
1 in 1000 people with measles develop inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) - 15 in 100 of these people die and approximately 30 in 100 are left with permanent brain damage.
1 in 100,000 people who have had measles will, years later, develop a serious brain inflammation called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). This serious complication always results in death.
After MMR immunisation, a fever of 39.4°C or more happens in 5 to 15 in 100 children. This usually develops 6 to 12 days after immunisation and lasts 1 to 2 days. 5 in 100 children get a rash at the same time.
Side effects of the different components of the MMR vaccine can also include:
Rare side effects of MMR
Immunisation Advisory Centre. University of Auckland. http://www.immune.org.nz/diseases/measles [1] [Accessed 30/06/2022]
Immunisation Handbook 2020 (measles chapter) [2]. Wellington: Ministry of Health. [Accessed 30/06/2022]
This page last reviewed 04 July 2022.
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Links
[1] https://www.immune.org.nz/diseases/measles
[2] https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/immunisation-handbook-2020/12-measles
[3] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F2268%3Flanguage%3Dzh-hant