Measles/Mumps/Rubella/Varicella Vaccine, Injection MEE-zels mumpz roo-BEL-a va-rih-SEL-a vak-SEEN

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: measles, mumps, rubella, and 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:

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

Tell your healthcare provider if your child has any infection with fever. Also tell your provider if your child has recently had any other shots.

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.

How do I use it?

This shot is given by a healthcare provider. The medicine is most effective when given before exposure to the disease.

What should I watch out for?

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 (38° to 39°C). If the fever doesn't go away or goes above 103°F (39°C), contact your healthcare provider.

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.

This medicine is made from a human blood product. The risk of getting an infection from this medicine is very low, but it is still possible. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, 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), seizures, 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, mild 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.

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:

• arthritis medicines such as infliximab (Remicade), leflunomide (Arava), or methotrexate
• aspirin and other salicylates (Do not take for 6 weeks after this vaccine. Children 18 years or younger should not be given aspirin in any form for any reason unless told by your healthcare provider.)
• corticosteroids such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone, and prednisolone
• immune globulin
• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral), mycophenolate (CellCept), sirolimus Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• interferon
• radiation treatment or chemotherapy

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.

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.