Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Descriptions


Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella virus vaccine (live) is an active immunizing agent that is given to protect against infections caused by measles (rubeola), mumps, rubella (German measles), and varicella (chickenpox) viruses. The combination vaccine works by causing the body to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the virus.

Measles (also known as coughing measles, hard measles, morbilli, red measles, rubeola, and 10-day measles) is an infection that is easily spread from one person to another. Infection with measles can cause serious problems, such as stomach problems, pneumonia, ear infections, sinus problems, convulsions (seizures), brain damage, and possibly death. The risk of serious complications and death is greater for adults and infants than for children and teenagers.

Mumps is an infection that can cause serious problems, such as encephalitis and meningitis, which affect the brain. In addition, teenage boys and men are very susceptible to a condition, called orchitis, which causes pain and swelling in the testicles and scrotum, and in rare cases, sterility. Also, mumps infection can cause spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) in women during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

Rubella (also known as German measles) is a serious infection that causes miscarriages, stillbirths, or birth defects in unborn babies when pregnant women get the disease.

Varicella (commonly known as chickenpox) is an infection that is easily spread from one person to another. Chickenpox is usually a mild infection but can sometimes cause serious problems, such as pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and a rare disease, called Reye's syndrome.

This vaccine is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor or other healthcare professional.

Before Using

In deciding to use a vaccine, the risks of taking the vaccine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this vaccine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Use is not recommended in infants younger than 12 months of age or in children 13 years of age and older. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

This vaccine is not recommended for use in elderly patients.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this vaccine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Receiving this vaccine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to use this vaccine or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Alemtuzumab
  • Bendamustine
  • Bortezomib
  • Bosutinib
  • Cabazitaxel
  • Capecitabine
  • Carboplatin
  • Carfilzomib
  • Carmustine
  • Chlorambucil
  • Cisplatin
  • Cladribine
  • Clofarabine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Cytarabine
  • Cytarabine Liposome
  • Dacarbazine
  • Dasatinib
  • Daunorubicin
  • Daunorubicin Citrate Liposome
  • Daunorubicin Liposome
  • Deflazacort
  • Docetaxel
  • Doxorubicin
  • Epirubicin
  • Etoposide
  • Fludarabine
  • Fluorouracil
  • Gemcitabine
  • Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Hydroxyurea
  • Idarubicin
  • Ifosfamide
  • Imatinib
  • Interferon Alfa
  • Irinotecan
  • Irinotecan Liposome
  • Lomustine
  • Mechlorethamine
  • Melphalan
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Methotrexate
  • Mitomycin
  • Mitoxantrone
  • Nelarabine
  • Nilotinib
  • Ofatumumab
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Paclitaxel
  • Paclitaxel Protein-Bound
  • Pemetrexed
  • Pentostatin
  • Ponatinib
  • Procarbazine
  • Rituximab
  • Temozolomide
  • Teniposide
  • Thiotepa
  • Topotecan
  • Tositumomab
  • Vinblastine
  • Vinorelbine

Receiving this vaccine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Adalimumab
  • Anifrolumab-fnia
  • Ansuvimab-zykl
  • Antithymocyte Globulin Rabbit
  • Aspirin
  • Atoltivimab
  • Axicabtagene Ciloleucel
  • Azathioprine
  • Baricitinib
  • Belatacept
  • Benorilate
  • Betibeglogene Autotemcel
  • Bimekizumab-bkzx
  • Brexucabtagene Autoleucel
  • Brodalumab
  • Canakinumab
  • Certolizumab Pegol
  • Choline Salicylate
  • Cyclosporine
  • Deucravacitinib
  • Dupilumab
  • Efgartigimod Alfa-fcab
  • Elivaldogene Autotemcel
  • Emapalumab-lzsg
  • Etanercept
  • Etrasimod
  • Everolimus
  • Fingolimod
  • Golimumab
  • Guselkumab
  • Hyaluronidase
  • Immune Globulin
  • Inebilizumab-cdon
  • Infliximab
  • Ixekizumab
  • Leflunomide
  • Leniolisib
  • Lovotibeglogene Autotemcel
  • Meningococcal Vaccine
  • Mesalamine
  • Mirikizumab-mrkz
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Ocrelizumab
  • Olsalazine
  • Ozanimod
  • Ponesimod
  • Rilonacept
  • Risankizumab-rzaa
  • Ritlecitinib
  • Rozanolixizumab-noli
  • Salicylamide
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Salsalate
  • Sarilumab
  • Satralizumab-mwge
  • Secukinumab
  • Siponimod
  • Sirolimus
  • Sodium Salicylate
  • Sodium Thiosalicylate
  • Spesolimab-sbzo
  • Tacrolimus
  • Teplizumab-mzwv
  • Teriflunomide
  • Tildrakizumab-asmn
  • Tocilizumab
  • Tofacitinib
  • Trabectedin
  • Tralokinumab-ldrm
  • Trolamine Salicylate
  • Ublituximab-xiiy
  • Upadacitinib
  • Ustekinumab
  • Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec-rvox
  • Vamorolone
  • Voclosporin

Receiving this vaccine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abatacept
  • Cytomegalovirus Immune Globulin, Human
  • Hepatitis B Immune Globulin
  • Rabies Immune Globulin
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immune Globulin, Human
  • Tetanus Immune Globulin
  • Vaccinia Immune Globulin, Human
  • Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulin

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this vaccine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Allergy to eggs, history of—May increase risk for a serious allergic reaction to occur again.
  • Brain injury or
  • Seizures, history of or
  • Thrombocytopenia (not enough platelets in the blood) or history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Immune system problems, severe or
  • Tuberculosis, active and untreated—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give your child this vaccine. It is given as a shot under your skin (usually in the upper arms or thighs) or into one of your muscles.

This vaccine is given in 2 doses. First dose is given at 12 to 15 months of age, while the second dose is given at 4 to 6 years of age.

Your child may receive certain other vaccines at the same time as this one, but in a different body area.

This vaccine comes with patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions..

It is important to receive this vaccine at the proper time. If your child misses a scheduled shot, call your child's doctor to make another appointment as soon as possible.

Precautions

It is very important that your child return to your doctor’s office at the right time if your child needs a second dose of the vaccine. Be sure to notify your doctor of any side effects that occur after your child receive this vaccine.

Do not become pregnant for 3 months after receiving this vaccine without first checking with your doctor. There is a chance that this vaccine may cause problems during pregnancy. If you think you have become pregnant, tell your doctor right away.

This vaccine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, a fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving the vaccine.

Proquad® injection will lower the number of some types of blood cells in your body. Because of this, you may bleed or get infections more easily. To help with these problems, avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Wash your hands often. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers.

Children who have received this vaccine have developed a fever and in some cases a fever with seizures. Talk with your child's doctor if you have concerns about this.

Your child should avoid close contact with people at high risk for catching the varicella virus for 6 weeks after receiving this vaccine. People who are at risk for catching the virus are pregnant women, newborn babies, and anyone who has a weak immune system that keeps them from fighting infections.

Tell your doctor that you have received this vaccine:

  • If you are to receive blood transfusions or other blood products within 3 months of receiving this vaccine.
  • If you are to receive varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG) or other immune globulins within 3 to 5 months after receiving this vaccine.
  • If you are to have a tuberculin skin test within 4 to 6 weeks after receiving this vaccine.
  • If you are to receive any other live virus vaccines within 1 or 3 months of receiving this vaccine.

Do not take aspirin or medicines that contain aspirin (such as cold medicines) for 6 weeks after receiving this vaccine. Carefully check the label of any pain, headache, or cold medicine you give to your child to be sure it does not contain aspirin or salicylic acid.

This vaccine contains albumin, which comes from human blood. Some human blood products have transmitted certain viruses (eg, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) to people who have received them. The risk of getting a virus from medicines made of human blood has been greatly reduced in recent years. This is the result of required testing of human donors for certain viruses, and testing during the manufacture of these medicines. Although the risk is low, talk with your child's doctor if you have concerns.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Fever over 39 °C (102 °F)

Less common

  1. Body aches or pain
  2. chills
  3. cough
  4. ear congestion
  5. fever
  6. headache
  7. loss of voice
  8. rash that looks like chickenpox or measles
  9. sneezing
  10. sore throat
  11. stuffy or runny nose
  12. unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

  1. Agitation
  2. back pain, sudden and severe
  3. bleeding gums
  4. blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin
  5. bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
  6. blood in the urine or stools
  7. bloody nose
  8. bloody or black, tarry stools
  9. blurred vision
  10. burning or stinging of the skin
  11. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  12. chest pain or tightness
  13. confusion
  14. cough or hoarseness
  15. cough producing mucus
  16. diarrhea
  17. difficulty with breathing
  18. difficulty with swallowing
  19. dizziness
  20. drowsiness
  21. fainting
  22. fast heartbeat
  23. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  24. hallucinations
  25. hives
  26. inability to move the arms and legs
  27. inability to speak
  28. irritability
  29. itching, pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth on the skin
  30. joint or muscle pain
  31. large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
  32. large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  33. loss of appetite
  34. loss of consciousness
  35. lower back or side pain
  36. mood or mental changes
  37. muscle aches and pains
  38. muscle weakness, sudden and progressing
  39. nausea
  40. noisy breathing
  41. numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
  42. pain, numbness, or tingling of the hands, arms, legs, or feet
  43. pain, tenderness, or swelling in the testicles and scrotum
  44. painful blisters on the trunk of the body
  45. painful cold sores or blisters on the lips, nose, eyes, or genitals
  46. painful knees and ankles
  47. painful or difficult urination
  48. pinpoint red spots on the skin
  49. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  50. raised red swellings on the skin, buttocks, legs, or ankles
  51. rapid weight gain
  52. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  53. red, irritated eyes
  54. seizures
  55. severe or sudden headache
  56. shakiness and unsteady walk
  57. shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
  58. shivering
  59. skin rash
  60. skin rash on the face, scalp, or stomach
  61. slurred speech
  62. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  63. stiff neck or back
  64. stomach pain
  65. sudden numbness and weakness in the arms and legs
  66. sweating
  67. swelling or puffiness of the face
  68. swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
  69. swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands on the side of the face or neck
  70. temporary blindness
  71. tenderness
  72. thickening of bronchial secretions
  73. tingling of the hands or feet
  74. trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
  75. trouble sleeping
  76. unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
  77. unusual bleeding or bruising
  78. unusual weight gain or loss
  79. vomiting
  80. warmth on the skin
  81. weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe
  82. weakness of the muscles in your face
  83. white patches in the mouth or throat or on the tongue
  84. white patches with diaper rash

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site

Incidence not known

  1. Abnormal dreams
  2. blindness
  3. bloated
  4. blue-yellow color blindness
  5. deafness
  6. decreased vision
  7. difficulty with moving
  8. double vision
  9. ear pain
  10. excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
  11. eye pain
  12. full feeling
  13. irritation and swelling of the eyelids
  14. lack of feeling or emotion
  15. muscle or bone pain
  16. muscle pain or stiffness
  17. nervousness
  18. pain and swelling in the scrotum
  19. pain in the hip, leg, or neck
  20. pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
  21. passing gas
  22. red rash with watery, yellow-colored, or pus filled blisters
  23. thick yellow to honey-colored crusts
  24. uncaring
  25. unusually deep sleep
  26. unusually long duration of sleep

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/drugs-supplements/measles-mumps-rubella-and-varicella-virus-vaccine-live-subcutaneous-route/before-using/drg-20074465