The Disease

Before vaccines, mumps was a common childhood disease. The most obvious sign of mumps is swelling of the cheeks and jaw, which is caused by inflammation in the salivary glands. Children with mumps usually also get a fever and headache. Generally, mumps is a mild disease, but it does have its serious side...

(more about the symptoms and way its spread)

The Immunization

The mumps vaccine we use today was licensed in 1967, and is a live, attenuated (weakened) vaccine. The number of reported cases has dropped from over 150,000 in 1968 to only 666 in 1998.

(more about the immunization and side effects)

Vaccine Recommendations

• AAP: Age for Routine Administration of the Second Dose of
  Measles–Mumps–Rubella Vaccine
• CDC: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella -- Vaccine Use and Strategies for Elimination of Measles, Rubella, and Congenital Rubella Syndrome and Control of Mumps (Exit Site)

2006 Outbreak Information

• New CDC Recommendations- On June 1, 2006, the CDC issued new recommendations for mumps vaccination in response to an outbreak. (Exit Site)
• AAP Endorses CDC Recommendations (Exit Site)
• CDC Update: Multistate Outbreak of Mumps (5/2/06, Exit Site)

Quick Facts - What You Need to Know

• Why get vaccinated?
• Who should get MMR vaccine and when?
• Some people should not get MMR vaccine or should wait
• What are the risks from MMR vaccine?
• What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?

Other Resources

• CDC Mumps page (Exit Site)
• Immunization Action Coalition Mumps page (Exit Site)
• National Network for Immunization Information Mumps page (Exit Site)