Measles, Mumps & Rubella

DID YOU KNOW | SYMPTOMS | HOW IT SPREADS | IMPACT ON HEALTH | HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?

Did you know?

It is reported that there is more than 1 case of mumps every 2 minutes worldwide.¹ Measles, mumps and rubella are contagious diseases caused by viruses.^2-4

How it spreads

Impact on health

Measles:²

Most patients recover completely from measles. In some cases, complications of measles can lead to ear infection and pneumonia in older individuals and in rare cases acute.

Mumps:³

Although rare, complications may include infection of the central nervous system, inflammation of testes, hearing impairment or loss.

Rubella:⁴

Complication of rubella such as joint pain and arthritis are rare.
If you are pregnant and exposed to rubella, contact your doctor immediately as a risk of birth defects is higher when exposed to rubella in early stage of pregnancy.

How can i protect myself?

Who is at risk?

Individuals born before 1985 (i.e. before measles vaccination was made compulsory in 1985 for children aged 1-2 years old in Singapore⁵) with no written documentation of adequate vaccinations or any blood test history to prove immunity.
Everyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had contact with MMR previously.^6,7

Vaccination

Singapore’s National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) recommends the MMR vaccines for adults who have not been previously vaccinated, or or has not had contact with these diseases.¹⁰
The MMR vaccine is also recommended in Singapore’s National Children Immunisation Schedule (NCIS).¹⁰
There are other prevention measures within the site and there are other vaccine options available in Singapore, not only GSK.

Singaporeans can use Medisave to fund their MMR vaccination. Patients with complex chronic conditions will be able to use up to $700 per patient yearly, while other patients will be able to use up to $500 per patient yearly.¹¹

Please consult your healthcare professional for more information on the disease, available prevention options, and eligibility for subsidy.

Footnote:
All Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) who meet the criteria for vaccination under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) and National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) are eligible for subsidies for nationally-recommeded vaccinations.¹⁴

References

WHO. Global and regional immunization profile. Available at: https://www.who.int/immunization/monitoring_surveillance/data/gs_gloprofile.pdf Last accessed September 2022.
Healthhub. Measles: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention. Available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/65/measles. Last accessed September 2022.
Healthhub. Mumps: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention. Available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/116/topic_mumps. Last accessed September 2022.
Healthhub. Rubella. Available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/80/rubella. Last accessed September 2022.
MOH. Special feature Singapore’s Progress Towards Measles Elimination. Available at: https://www.moh.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider5/resources-statistics/reports/ specialfeaturecea58aaf14d24e759798142525eda9a2.pdf. Last accessed September 2022.
WebMD. Measles FAQ: Symptoms, Prevention, and More. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/measles-faq#1. Last accessed September 2022.
WebMD. What Is Measles? Available at: https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/what-is-measles#1. Last accessed September 2022.
CDC. Measles. Available at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/measles Last accessed September 2022.
CDC. Mealses, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html Last accessed September 2022.
MOH. Nationally Recommended Vaccines. Available at: https://www.moh.gov.sg/resources-statistics/nationally-recommended-vaccines Last accessed September 2022.
MOH. MediSave. Available at: https://www.moh.gov.sg/cost-financing/healthcare-schemes-subsidies/medisave Last accessed September 2022.
CDC. Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette in Healthcare Settings. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/resphygiene.htm. Last accessed September 2022.
NHS. Prevention measles. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/prevention/. Last accessed September 2022.
MOH. Vaccination and childhood developmental screening subsidies. Available at: https://www.moh.gov.sg/cost-financing/healthcare-schemes-subsidies/vaccination-and- childhood-developmental-screening-subsidies Last accessed September 2022.