MR Vaccine and MMR Vaccine: Here's the Difference!

The MR vaccine is given to prevent the occurrence of diseases caused by the measles (measles) and rubella (German measles) viruses. While the MMR vaccine is also used to prevent these two diseases, it is only equipped with a mumps vaccine.

As is known, measles and rubella are infectious infectious diseases caused by viruses. Transmission of these two diseases can occur through splashes of saliva or mucus when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Transmission can also occur through direct contact with objects that have been contaminated with the virus.

Difference Between MR and MMR Vaccines

Measles can weaken the immune system and cause fever, rash, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Measles also often causes serious complications such as ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, brain damage, and even death. Meanwhile, rubella or German measles is a viral infection that causes sufferers to experience fever, sore throat, rash, headache, red eyes, and itchy eyes. Rubella often occurs in children and adolescents.

Although generally mild, this virus can have a negative impact on pregnant women who are infected, because it can cause miscarriage or even serious birth defects in the baby, such as blindness and deafness. Well, the MR vaccine immunization program aims to prevent rubella infection during pregnancy which can cause babies to be born with congenital disorders.

The MR vaccine is a substitute for the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine is a vaccine to prevent measles, rubella, and mumps. The difference between the MR and MMR vaccines is the mumps content against mumps which is no longer included in the MR vaccine.

Mumps or parotitis is a disease caused by a virus that can cause fever, joint pain, headaches, swollen glands under the ears, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Mumps can also cause complications that include swelling of the testicles or ovaries, resulting in infertility, deafness, meningitis and, in rare cases, death.

MR vaccine immunization is given to all children aged 9 months to less than 15 years. The MR vaccine is effective and safe to give even to children who have received the MMR vaccine. The vaccines used have received recommendations from the WHO (World Health Organization) and distribution permits from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency. And this vaccine has also been used in more than 141 countries in the world. 

As with other injectable vaccines, low-grade fever, red rash, mild swelling, and pain at the injection site after immunization are normal reactions that will disappear in 2-3 days. Serious post-immunization conditions are very rare. What you need to understand is that measles is a disease that can endanger a child's life, while rubella can cause lifelong birth defects. There is no specific treatment for measles and rubella, but both can be prevented with the MR vaccine.

Therefore, it is important for your child to get the MR vaccine in government campaign programs and routine immunizations to increase the child's immunity from this disease. Not only children and adolescents, adults can also be given this vaccine, especially before pregnancy. For more information about the MR vaccine, consult a doctor at the nearest hospital, health center.