Measles Vaccine Side Effects
The most common measles vaccine side effects are fever and a measles-like skin rash. Some children develop a mild measles illness or severe allergic reactions from MMR vaccines.
How is the vaccine given?
Can the vaccine cause measles?
What are common side effects of the measles vaccine?
What are severe side effects of the measles vaccine?
What other side effects have been reported?
Can measles vaccines cause a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)?
Can I file a measles vaccine lawsuit?
Where can I get more information?
What are measles vaccine names?
The only measles vaccine currently on the market is M-M-R II® (Measles-Mumps-Rubella Live Attenuated Virus Vaccine) manufactured by Merck & Co., also known as the MMR vaccine.
How is the vaccine given?
The measles vaccine is given to children in a series of two 0.5-mL injections (shots) in the upper arm or thigh. The first shot is recommended between the ages of 12-15 months. The second shot is recommended between the ages of 4-6 years old.
Can the vaccine cause measles?
The measles vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, which means it contains a live measles virus that is significantly weakened.
The measles vaccine commonly causes a measles-like skin rash. Some children get a very mild form of measles, including a rash, high temperature, loss of appetite, and feeling sick for 2-3 days.
What are common side effects of the measles vaccine?
- Fever
- Mild rash
- Swelling of the glands in the cheeks
- Temporary pain and stiffness in joints (mostly teenagers and adults)
What are severe side effects of the measles vaccine?
Febrile seizures (high fevers causing a seizure) are estimated to occur in 1 in every 3,000 children who get the MMR vaccine.
Approximately 1 out of 30,000 children could develop a temporary low platelet count, which could cause bruising or bleeding under the skin.
Fewer than one in 1 million children have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) within a few hours of receiving the vaccine. Symptoms may include breathing problems, wheezing, hives, and a skin rash.
What other side effects have been reported?
MMR vaccines are associated with reports of children who developed deafness, long-term seizure disorders, coma, lowered consciousness, or permanent brain damage. Seek medical attention immediately if you notice unusual behavior changes.
The following is a list of side effects that have been reported in patients who received a MMR vaccine, but so rarely that it is unknown if they were actually caused by the vaccine:
- Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
- Allergic reaction
- Anaphylaxis
- Angioedema
- Arthritis
- Ataxia
- Atypical measles
- Bronchial spasm
- Convulsions
- Death
- Deafness
- Diabetes mellitus
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Ear infection (otitis meida)
- Encephalitis
- Encephalopathy
- Epididymitis
- Erythema multiforme
- Facial swelling
- Febrile seizures (high fever causing seizure)
- Fever
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
- Headache
- Irritability
- Leukocytosis
- Lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes)
- Malaise
- Measles inclusion body encephalitis (MIBE)
- Meningitis
- Nausea
- Neurological disorders
- Ocular palsies
- Optic neuritis
- Pancreatitis
- Panniculitis
- Papillitis
- Paresthesia
- Parotitis
- Pneumonia and pneumonitis
- Polyneuritis
- Polyneuropathy
- Purpura
- Rash (measles-like rash)
- Retinitis
- Seizures
- Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
- Sore throat
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
- Syncope (fainting)
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
- Thrombocytopenia
- Transverse myelitis
- Vasculitis
- Vomiting
Can Measles vaccines cause a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)?
There is a risk of a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) with any vaccine that is injected with a needle into the shoulder. The primary symptoms include shoulder inflammation, pain, weakness, and limited mobility.
Can I file a Measles vaccine lawsuit?
Our lawyers are evaluating measles vaccine lawsuits for anyone who was diagnosed with a shoulder injury (SIRVA) from the MMR vaccine.
