Skip to main contentSkip to main content

Vaccinations

MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine

Open all pages about Vaccinations

The MMR vaccine is offered to children to protect them against serious and highly infectious illnesses called measles, mumps and rubella.

Babies are given the 1st dose of the MMR vaccine when they’re 1 year old. They’re given the 2nd dose at 3 years and 4 months.

After 2 doses of the MMR vaccine, almost all children are protected against measles and rubella, and almost 9 in every 10 are protected against mumps.

After the MMR vaccine, there may be some redness and swelling where the injection is given. Babies or young children may also have a high temperature.

The main ingredient of the MMR vaccine is a small amount of weakened measles, mumps and rubella viruses.

Page last reviewed: 08/04/2020
Next review due: 01/09/2023