Mumps-containing vaccines are on the Australian Immunisation Schedule and recommended for;
- children ≥12 months of age
- adolescents and adults born during or since 1966 who have not received 2 doses of mumps-containing vaccine
The disease
Mumps occurs worldwide. Complications from mumps can include encephalitis, deafness, orchitis (inflammation of the testes) and pancreatitis.
The vaccine
Mumps-containing vaccine is recommended for children at 12 months of age as MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, and at 18 months of age as MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) vaccine.
All adolescents and adults born during or since 1966 should have either:
- documented evidence of 2 doses of mumps-containing vaccine given at least 4 weeks apart and with both doses given ≥12 months of age, or
- serological evidence of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella
(Text adapted from the Australian Immunisation Handbook)
For more information about mumps and the vaccine available please see here.
Page reviewed November 2018.