MMR Vaccination

[evergreen]

I am non-immune to mumps; the nurse informed me that the MMR vaccination is live. Does anyone know whether I can take this or not?

[evergreen]

Bumpity, bumpity, bump...

[luvwinnie]

What meds are you on? Of course, you need to ask your dr. no matter what replies you get here.

[twinieten]

Maybe this will answere your question. http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/PrevGuid/p0000210/p0000210.asp#head005000000000000

Under "Precautions and Contraindications" it says,

"Altered Immunity

Replication of the mumps vaccine virus may be potentiated in patients with immune deficiency diseases and by the suppressed immune responses that occur with leukemia, lymphoma, generalized malignancy, or with therapy with corticosteroids, alkylating drugs, antimetabolites, or radiation. Patients with such conditions should not be given live mumps virus vaccine. Since vaccinated persons do not transmit mumps vaccine virus, the risk of mumps exposure for those patients may be reduced by vaccinating their close susceptible contacts."

I'm thinking, not OK to have an attenuated vaccine. Is there no dead version?

[JesseLou]

Based on the fact that we cannot take the live flu vaccine if we're on a biologic or MTX, etc I would say the nurse is correct. You can't get it.

[evergreen]

duh me...I'm on MTX & Humira...

Thanks for the responses.

[forestal]

I would still ask your doctor if they he/she is unsure have them find out. THe meds you are on may affect your ability to fight viral infections, and getting the mumps is worse than what the shot may give... I would also state that mumps may come in a seperate vaccine , so you are not potentially exposed to 3 different viral illnesses.

often folks with HIV who have good cd4 counts can get the mmr vaccine, so it may be a good idea

there is no dead version-they have been unable to generate a good sustained immune response with dead mumps/measles/rubella vaccines, but the attenuated makes it highly unlikely (but not impossible) to get sick and if you do is not like the full disease

[evergreen]

I would still ask your doctor if they he/she is unsure have them find out. THe meds you are on may affect your ability to fight viral infections, and getting the mumps is worse than what the shot may give... I would also state that mumps may come in a seperate vaccine , so you are not potentially exposed to 3 different viral illnesses.

often folks with HIV who have good cd4 counts can get the mmr vaccine, so it may be a good idea

there is no dead version-they have been unable to generate a good sustained immune response with dead mumps/measles/rubella vaccines, but the attenuated makes it highly unlikely (but not impossible) to get sick and if you do is not like the full disease
Thanks Dan.