Measles/Mumps/Rubella/Varicella Vaccine, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by injection to provide protection against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.
• After a child receives this vaccine, the child may be able to pass the virus to other people. The child receiving this vaccine should avoid close contact for up to 6 weeks with pregnant women, newborn babies, and people with bone marrow disease, HIV, or people having cancer treatments.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if your child has any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat your child about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that your child takes.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: measles/mumps/rubella/varicella vaccine, injection; ProQuad

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (a shot) to children between the ages of 12 months and 12 years of age. It provides protection against measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), and varicella (chickenpox).

What should my healthcare provider know before my child receives this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if your child has ever had:

• An allergic reaction any medicine or vaccine
• An allergic reaction to gelatin or to eggs
• A bleeding disorder
• A blood transfusion or treatment with immune globulin
• A bone marrow or blood disorder such as leukemia or lymphoma
• A brain tumor or head injury
• A weakened immune system from cancer treatment, diseases such as HIV/AIDS, or from taking steroid medicines or medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Seizures
• Tuberculosis (TB)

Tell your healthcare provider if your child has a fever or infection. If your child is severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, wait until he or she recovers before getting this vaccine. If your child has a mild cold or other mild infection, he or she may still be able to get the shot.

Also tell your provider if your child has recently had any other vaccines. Females of childbearing age: This vaccine is not given to pregnant women. It is important to prevent pregnancy for at least 3 months after getting the vaccine. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This vaccine is given by a healthcare provider. The medicine is most effective when given before exposure to the disease. The first dose of this vaccine is given at 12 to 15 months of age. The second dose, if needed, is usually given at 4 to 6 years of age.

Your healthcare provider will tell you how many shots you will need and when you should get them. Keep a record of when each vaccine was last given. If a shot is missed, contact your healthcare provider right away and schedule another appointment for the shot.

This vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

What should I watch out for?

It is very important to get all shots on schedule to provide protection from these serious diseases. Keep all appointments for injections and checkups.

This vaccine can temporarily reduce skin reactions to the TB test. The TB skin test should be given before this vaccine or 4 to 6 weeks after 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, or 38° to 39°C. If the fever doesn't go away or goes above 103°F, or 39°C, contact your healthcare provider. This vaccine may also cause a mild rash, or swollen glands of the cheek or neck, usually within 5 to 12 days after the first dose. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

After a child receives this vaccine, the child may be able to pass the virus to other people. The child receiving this vaccine should avoid close contact for up to 6 weeks with pregnant women, newborn babies, and people whose bodies cannot fight infection (such as those with bone marrow disease, HIV, or people having cancer treatments). Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

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 healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare 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 healthcare provider right away.): High fever (over 103°F, or 39°C), seizures, unusual bruising or bleeding or purple spots on the skin, severe headache or stiff neck, unusual weakness, numbness in the arms or legs, trouble hearing, extreme fussiness in infants, severe dizziness or fainting, painful or swollen testicles, severe rash with red or peeling skin, confusion or change in behavior.

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

What products might interact with this medicine?

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 healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Aspirin and medicines that contain aspirin (Do not take any aspirin for 6 weeks after this vaccine unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. Children 18 years or younger should not be given aspirin in any form for any reason unless told by your healthcare provider.)
• Cancer medicines such as cisplatin, hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea), vinblastine, vincristine (Marqibo), and others
• Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, hydrocortisone (A-Hydrocort, Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol), prednisone (Prednisone Intensol), and others
• Everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress)
• Immune globulin
• Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic), and others
• Live vaccines within 4 weeks of receiving the vaccine
• Medicines to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other immune disorders such as adalimumab (Humira), anakinra (Kineret), belimumab (Benlysta), leflunomide (Arava), and others
• Methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• Multiple sclerosis medicines such as fingolimod (Gilenya), natalizumab (Tysabri), and teriflunomide (Aubagio)
• Radiation therapy
• Tuberculin skin test

Keep a record of all vaccines received and when your child received them.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare 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.