The MMR Vaccine: What the Manufacturer's Insert Tells Us

With all the controversy surrounding vaccines, it can be difficult to make a decision. The idea of one of our tiny children developing a disease that could have been prevented by a vaccine is frightening.

However, are vaccines really the Holy grail they've been promised to be? There are many educated, experienced medical professionals disagreeing on the subject. One place for parent to start might be the makers of the vaccines themselves. 

Vaccine Package Inserts
Every vaccine includes a package insert that tells the doctor (and the parent lucky enough to see one) all about the vaccine, including its description, ingredients, purpose, contraindications (under what circumstances one should NOT have the vaccine), and side effects.

Merck is the manufacturer of the commonly used MMR vaccine. MMR stands for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. They provide a copy of the MMR package insert on their website in PDF format, which one can view by clicking here.

MMR Vaccine Ingredients
Under the description we learn that the MMR is made in a medium using chick embryo cell culture. That means the disease is cultivated in eggs. Another potentially allergenic ingredient is gelatin. Anyone with an egg or gelatin allergy will want to avoid having this injected into their blood stream.

We also learn that the Rubella part of the vaccine is grown in human diploid lung fibroblasts. Translation: aborted human embryo tissue.

MMR Vaccine Indications and Uses
Generally, the MMR vaccine is recommended for children starting at 12 months. It is also frequently recommended for women of child-bearing age, since Rubella can cause birth defects. Many women have had the MMR vaccine recommended to them during pregnancy itself as well as immediately after.
However, the package insert clearly states that women should only receive the MMR vaccine 3 month prior to actually becoming pregnant.

It also states "Postpubertal females should b informed of the frequent occurrence of generally self-limited arthralgia and/or arthritis beginning 2 to 4 weeks after vaccination."