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Introduction of MMR

According to the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) website, the MMR vaccination is a two shot immunization against the common childhood illnesses measles, mumps and rubella. The MMR vaccination was developed in the U.S. by pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck & Co. researcher Dr. Maurice Hilleman.

  1. History

    • The New Jersey Association of Biomedical Research (NJABR) reports the initial stimulus for Dr. Hilleman's research was the mumps illness suffered by his daughter, Jeryl Lynn in 1963. During the 1960s, between 20 and 30 children died each year from the mumps infection, prompting Dr. Hilleman to begin his research. The first live vaccine developed by Hilleman is called Jeryl Lynn and was approved for use by by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 1967.

    MMR

    • Following Dr. Hilleman's work on the mumps vaccination, he created a number of live vaccines, which place a weakened version of a virus in the body of a child to allow the immune system to produce antibodies to fight the infection. The NJABR reports that in 1971 Hilleman produced a combined MMR vaccine to be administered in a single shot to fight the disease of measles, mumps and rubella.

    Worldwide

    • Following the introduction of the MMR vaccination in the U.S., countries throughout the world began using the combined MMR vaccination. The NHS website reports the MMR vaccination was introduced in the U.K. in 1988 following an outbreak of measles in 1987 and proceeded to reduce the number of cases of measles, mumps and rubella to an all time low. NHS guidelines call for infants aged around 13 months of age to be given the vaccination, followed by a booster given between the ages of 3 and 5.

    Changes

    • The original MMR vaccine was administered with Varicella before vermicelli was removed from the vaccination, according to the National Network for Immunization Information (NNII). In 1989 a number of medical groups in the U.S. began to recommend the booster of the MMR vaccine be administered to children, these groups included the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

    Controversy

    • According to the NNII, the introduction of the MMR vaccine in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Europe was met with a controversy surrounding a supposed link between MMR and autism. Although no link has been proven between the two the NNII reports the number of vaccinations taking place in Europe following the controversy has fallen leading to fresh outbreaks of the childhood diseases.

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