mumps...to vaccinate or not to vaccinate?

Nurses General Nursing

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I had the MMR vaccine when in 79 when I was 1 year old, and an additional measels vaccine in 89 when we had an outbreak at my school. I'm trying to decide if I should go ahead and get the 2nd MMR. The health department said if I'm under 30 (yup), in college (yup), and in healthcare (on my way), I should probably get it. Also, they're having outbreaks now near my parents and I'm going to visit there in a couple of weeks. What do you think? This is my finals week and I don't want to have a reaction to it, but I also start nursing classes next week and don't want to wait and then have a reaction and miss those classes. There shouldn't be any ill effects from getting it should there? It's only $10, so I probably will. Has anybody else had to do this because of current circumstances?

Thanks!

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

All we had to have was a smallpox vaccine at age 6. When the Salk and Sabin polio vaccines were developed we all got them There was a day dedicated to everyone getting "the sugar cube."

I was born quite a bit before 1957 and my mother swears I had Mumps. Well when I was 29 and in Nursing School guess what? I got the Mumps. Go for the titre. I see where they're leaning toward not just 2 but 3 vaccinations.....would be something like 90% effective.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
I would have titers done as others have recommended. Mumps may not seem like a big deal but I read that 6% of the outbreak patients have had Mumps-associated encephelitis....that is a risk I won't take.[/quote

Also meningitis and orchitis. It can also cause ovarian tenderness which can be a difficult presentation in young girls.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.
I would have titers done as others have recommended. Mumps may not seem like a big deal but I read that 6% of the outbreak patients have had Mumps-associated encephelitis....that is a risk I won't take.

Can you provide a link for that?

I wouldn't want to take that risk either for me or my kids is why I am asking... I was reading on the CDC site that less than 2% of 100,000 of those infected with mumps get encephelitis. 6% seems extremely high for so few cases of mumps we have now is why I ask.

From CDC: orchitis occurs in up to 30-40% of cases in post pubertal males. Although it is frequently bilateral, it rarely causes sterility. (still doesn't sound pleasant to me though...ekk)

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Here is a good link from the CDC:

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/mumps/mumps-tech-faqs.htm

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Can you provide a link for that?

I wouldn't want to take that risk either for me or my kids is why I am asking... I was reading on the CDC site that less than 2% of 100,000 of those infected with mumps get encephelitis. 6% seems extremely high for so few cases of mumps we have now is why I ask.

I think he's referring to the current outbreak we're hearing about on the news. If you've taken statistics, think back to it. The percentage of encephalitis cases may sound high, but the small number of cases is exactly what causes the numbers to be a little skewed. Small sample sizes tend to mess up the typical percentages we would see.

Also, I think you meant to say that less than 2 (not 2%) in 100,000 patients would develop encephalitis. 2% of 100,000 would just be an extra-confusing way of saying 2,000.

The numbers do get really confusing, especially since such a small percentage of our nursing education is devoted to really understanding research and stats.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Mumps, Measles and Rubella ARE a big deal and all have made comebacks recently. I would not want to risk the complications from ANY of these illnesses for myself or family....

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.
I think he's referring to the current outbreak we're hearing about on the news. If you've taken statistics, think back to it. The percentage of encephalitis cases may sound high, but the small number of cases is exactly what causes the numbers to be a little skewed. Small sample sizes tend to mess up the typical percentages we would see.

Also, I think you meant to say that less than 2 (not 2%) in 100,000 patients would develop encephalitis. 2% of 100,000 would just be an extra-confusing way of saying 2,000.

The numbers do get really confusing, especially since such a small percentage of our nursing education is devoted to really understanding research and stats.

Oh I totally agree about the numbers being confusing (it is to me) that is why I was asking. I still have not seen anything about 6% of the cases having encephalitis though? If anyone has a link for that I would like to see it.

Well I thought the CDC site said less than 2% got encephalities and to me that is more than I expected and worried me. I would have to go back and look to see if it's 2% or 2 (big difference). My mom had mumps when I was little and I remember it and for her it wasn't anything major, so I think it's just human nature on my part to think mumps is not that big a deal because that is my *only* experience with it.

But believe me I am not willing to risk encephalitis for me or my kids. That is why I am asking for clarification on the 6% encephalitis part.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.
Mumps, Measles and Rubella ARE a big deal and all have made comebacks recently. I would not want to risk the complications from ANY of these illnesses for myself or family....

That is scarey. Is it coming back mainly in adolecence and adults like this recent mumps outbreak is? I'm wondering if our vaccine protection for MMR only really lasts until middle to late adolecence? I know the CDC (correct me if I'm wrong) doesn't recommend boosters of MMR for *most* adults (except possible health care providers) and maybe we all do need a booster.

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I know about 10 year back I had to have documentation of 2 MMR shot or to have a titer done for a new postion. Well my issue ended up that my shot records were not the best and due to an allergy to poultry I didnt recieve my first MMR until I was 15. The employee health at that job decided though that since they were going to have to pay for the titer and then if it show non immune a MMR as well that the nurse just went ahead and gave my the shot then.

As far as options go as some others have posted, I didnt have much of one and many others dont. Its either take the shots or not work for a particular place. As an example I have a friend's who's partner has never had chicken pox and cant get the vaccine as its not approved for older person or so she has been told. She has been not allowed to work at a couple places because of this.

The same goes for other immunizations ie you can choose not to take them for religious purposes but employers can choose not to allow you to work and schools can choose not to allow you to go to clinicals unless you are immunized.

RJ

The varicella vaccine IS approved for adults. You just have to have two, one month apart. As with any vaccine, there is of course no real guarantee of effectiveness. I myself am glad I've had chicken pox and will be having the vaccines as a formality since I can't provide written proof of exposure (but can show the two scars I got as a result of my experience!).

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Specializes in Level III cardiac/telemetry.
The varicella vaccine IS approved for adults. You just have to have two, one month apart. As with any vaccine, there is of course no real guarantee of effectiveness. I myself am glad I've had chicken pox and will be having the vaccines as a formality since I can't provide written proof of exposure (but can show the two scars I got as a result of my experience!).

My school told me if I would sign a statement that I'd had them when I was younger that would be enough. I was able to come up with an approximate date for when I had them because my mom wasn't for sure. (Note to self: keep better records for my future kids than my mom did for me!) :)

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

Ok..I wrote that the enchepalitis rate was 6% but apparently I am OFF MY ROCKER because I went back and could not find that number anywhere. Sorry to alarm!

If anyone is interested there is an outbreak "update sheet" from the Iowa DPH.

http://www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/common/pdf/mumps/mumps_update_041106.pdf

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.
Ok..I wrote that the enchepalitis rate was 6% but apparently I am OFF MY ROCKER because I went back and could not find that number anywhere. Sorry to alarm!

If anyone is interested there is an outbreak "update sheet" from the Iowa DPH.

http://www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/common/pdf/mumps/mumps_update_041106.pdf

Thanks for the clarification and don't worry I am often off my rocker too....LOL ;) and thanks for that link, I had not seen that before and it was very informative.

Doesn't anyone else find it interesting that those with 2 MMR vaccines have the highest rate of mumps by FAR? Isn't that odd??? Your more likely to not get mumps if you only had 1 MMR...lol Weird but true, can anyone make sense of that??

This is going to be interesting to follow, I was reading somewhere that mumps goes in cycles and normally is over by the summer months traditionally. I can't help but find it interesting that a disease we highly vaccinate for is spreading like wildfire.....

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