Measles/Rubella Vaccines, Injection

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: measles and rubella vaccine, injection; M-R-Vax II

This medicine is given by injection (a shot) to provide protection against common measles and German measles.

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• a reaction to other vaccine shots or any other medicine
• an allergic reaction to eggs
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or from cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or steroid medicine
• tuberculosis (TB)
• seizures or a head injury
• a blood transfusion or treatment with immune globulin.

Tell your health care provider if you have any infection with fever.

Measles shots should be given at least 1 month before or after other types of vaccines. Tell your health care provider if you have recently had any other shots.

Females of childbearing age: This vaccine is not given to pregnant women. Be sure to tell the health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Do not become pregnant for 28 days after you have this vaccine.

This shot is given by your health care provider. The medicine is most effective when given before exposure to the disease.

If you have a serious reaction (hives, swelling in your mouth or throat, trouble breathing), contact your health care provider or get medical care right away.

This vaccine can temporarily reduce skin reactions to the TB test. The TB skin test should be given before this vaccine.

This medicine may cause a brief burning or stinging at the site of the shot. There may also be some redness or tenderness.

This medicine may cause a brief fever of 101° to 103°F (38° to 39°C). If the fever doesn't go away or goes above 103°F (39°C), contact your health care provider.

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): High fever (over 103°F), bruising or purple spots on the skin, severe headache or stiff neck, unusual weakness, numbness in the arms or legs, trouble hearing, extreme fussiness.

Other: Low fever, rash, headache, sore mouth or throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; redness, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given, sore muscles or joints, sore testicles, runny nose, cough.

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also have an effect. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• arthritis medicines such as leflunomide (Arava), infliximab (Remicade), or methotrexate
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone (Decadron), fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten, Deltasone, Orasone), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort)
• immune serum globulin
• interferon
• medicines for organ transplant such as sirolimus (Rapamune) and tacrolimus (Prograf)

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.