Measles - Health Freedom Ireland

Disease	Risk of getting	Risk of death
measles	approx 1 in 72,000 (0.001%) for all ages (2011 to 2020)	Pre vaccine (1985) approx 1 in 773,000 (0.0001%) for all ages

What is measles?

Measles is a viral illness and is transmitted like the common cold. Measles starts with cold-like symptoms that develop about 10 days after you get infected, followed by a rash a few days later. The illness usually resolves itself in 7 to 10 days. Before there was a vaccine, measles was considered a benign childhood illness and a rite of passage, similar to how chickenpox is regarded today in Ireland. Those who get measles usually have lifelong immunity.

Death from measles is not common in developed countries like Ireland. The last measles death was recorded nearly twenty years ago in 2005. Severe measles has been associated with vitamin A deficiency, malnutrition and is more common in those who are chronically ill. Giving adequate supply of vitamin A can prevent morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries.

Well nourished children have little to fear from measles and perhaps something to gain. Measles can have a protective effect against disease in later years:

children who have had measles have far fewer allergies and atopic diseases, such as asthma, and adults who had measles have a reduced risk of Parkinson’s Disease .
The Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) study concluded that measles and mumps, especially in case of both infections, were associated with lower risks of mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD).
This study; Do childhood diseases affect NHL and HL risk? concluded that measles may provide a protective effect against Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Researchers at the Department of Health Care and Epidemiology at the University of British Columbia and the Department of Biology at the University of Victoria found that those who never had measles had a significantly increased rate of ovarian cancer.

What is the risk of getting measles in Ireland?

The risk of getting measles between 2011 and 2020, using both confirmed and possible cases, was approximately 1 in 72,000 (0.001%). There were 11 cases of measles reported in the four years between 2020 and 2023.

What is the risk of death from measles in Ireland?

There has been two confirmed deaths from measles in Ireland in over twenty years since 2001. The risk of dying from measles in Ireland in the decade before the vaccine was introduced in 1985 was approximately 1 in 773,000 (0.0001%). Survival rate was between 99.61% and 99.96% for anyone who contracted measles.

What vaccines are recommended on the childhood schedule for measles in Ireland?

The HSE recommend the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine for babies in Ireland at 12 months with a second dose given in Junior Infants. The MMR vaccine was first introduced in 1988. There are two vaccines available, both of which are combination, live, attenuated (weakened) virus vaccines.

M-M-RvaxPro manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme or
Priorix manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline

Does the vaccine guarantee protection against measles?

No – you may still get measles even if vaccinated. Global efforts to eradicate measles have been hampered by continuous breakthrough infections, often in highly vaccinated populations.

Between the years 2003 and 2018, of the 2351 notified cases of measles in Ireland, 22% were vaccinated and over 29% had unknown vaccination status.

Are the MMR vaccines safe?

All vaccines come with risks, some very serious. Below is a summary of the potential side effects as listed on the patient information leaflets.

M-M-RVaxPro summary of risks. Click here to see full details on this vaccine.

Risks from each dose of MMR vaccine M-M-RvaxPro

2 doses recommended, at 12 months and Junior infants (as per M-M-RvaxPro patient information leaflet June 2024)

Observed side effects post administration of M-M-RvaxPro (post marketing)
Aseptic meningitis (fever, feeling sick, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light); swollen testicles; infection of the middle ear; inflamed salivary glands; atypical measles (described in patients who received a killed measles virus vaccine, usually given before 1975). Swollen lymph nodes. Bruising or bleeding more easily than normal. Severe allergic reaction that may include difficulty in breathing, facial swelling, localised swelling, and swelling of the limbs. Irritability. Seizures (fits) without fever; seizures (fits) with fever in children; walking unsteadily; dizziness; illnesses involving inflammation of the nervous system (brain and/or spinal cord). An illness consisting of muscle weakness, abnormal sensations, tingling in the arms, legs, and upper body (Guillain-Barré syndrome). Headache; fainting; nerve disorders which can cause weakness, tingling, or numbness; eye nerve disturbances. Discharge and itching of the eyes with crusting of eyelids (conjunctivitis). Inflammation of the retina (in the eye) with changes in sight. Deafness. Cough; lung infection with or without fever. Feeling sick (nausea). Itching; inflammation of the fatty tissue under the skin; red or purple, flat, pinhead spots under the skin; hardened, raised area of the skin; serious illness with ulcers or blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes, and/or genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Joint pain and/or swelling (usually transient and rarely chronic); muscle pain. Burning and/or stinging of short duration at the injection site; blisters and/or hives at the injection site. Generally feeling unwell (malaise); swelling; soreness. Inflammation of blood vessels.

Observed side effects post administration of M-M-RvaxPro (post marketing)

Aseptic meningitis (fever, feeling sick, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light); swollen testicles; infection of the middle ear; inflamed salivary glands; atypical measles (described in patients who received a killed measles virus vaccine, usually given before 1975). Swollen lymph nodes. Bruising or bleeding more easily than normal. Severe allergic reaction that may include difficulty in breathing, facial swelling, localised swelling, and swelling of the limbs. Irritability. Seizures (fits) without fever; seizures (fits) with fever in children; walking unsteadily; dizziness; illnesses involving inflammation of the nervous system (brain and/or spinal cord). An illness consisting of muscle weakness, abnormal sensations, tingling in the arms, legs, and upper body (Guillain-Barré syndrome). Headache; fainting; nerve disorders which can cause weakness, tingling, or numbness; eye nerve disturbances. Discharge and itching of the eyes with crusting of eyelids (conjunctivitis). Inflammation of the retina (in the eye) with changes in sight. Deafness. Cough; lung infection with or without fever. Feeling sick (nausea). Itching; inflammation of the fatty tissue under the skin; red or purple, flat, pinhead spots under the skin; hardened, raised area of the skin; serious illness with ulcers or blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes, and/or genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Joint pain and/or swelling (usually transient and rarely chronic); muscle pain. Burning and/or stinging of short duration at the injection site; blisters and/or hives at the injection site. Generally feeling unwell (malaise); swelling; soreness. Inflammation of blood vessels.

Risk Category	Observed Side Effects
up to 1 in 100 (1%)	Nasal congestion and sore throat; upper respiratory tract infection or viral infection; runny nose. Crying. Diarrhoea, vomiting. Hives. Injection-site rash.
up to 1 in 10 (1% to 10%)	Rash (including measles-like rash). Injection-site bruising.
> 1 in 10 (10%)	Fever (38.5°C or higher). Injection-site redness; injection-site pain; injection-site swelling.

Priorix summary of risks. Click here to see full details on this vaccine.

Risks from each dose of MMR vaccine Priorix
2 doses recommended, at 12 months and Junior infants (as per Priorix patient information leaflet Sept 2023)

Observed side effects post administration of Priorix (post marketing)
Joint and muscle pain • Punctual or small spotted bleeding or bruising more easily than normal due to a drop in platelets • Sudden life-threatening allergic reaction • Infection or inflammation of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves resulting in temporary difficulty when walking (unsteadiness) and/or temporary loss of control of bodily movements, inflammation of some nerves, possibly with pins and needles or loss of feeling or normal movement (Guillain-Barré syndrome) • Narrowing or blockage of blood vessels • Erythema multiforme (symptoms are red, often itchy spots, similar to the rash of measles, which starts on the limbs and sometimes on the face and the rest of the body) • Measles and mumps-like symptoms (including transient, painful swelling of the testicles and swollen glands in the neck).

Observed side effects post administration of Priorix (post marketing)

Joint and muscle pain • Punctual or small spotted bleeding or bruising more easily than normal due to a drop in platelets • Sudden life-threatening allergic reaction • Infection or inflammation of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves resulting in temporary difficulty when walking (unsteadiness) and/or temporary loss of control of bodily movements, inflammation of some nerves, possibly with pins and needles or loss of feeling or normal movement (Guillain-Barré syndrome) • Narrowing or blockage of blood vessels • Erythema multiforme (symptoms are red, often itchy spots, similar to the rash of measles, which starts on the limbs and sometimes on the face and the rest of the body) • Measles and mumps-like symptoms (including transient, painful swelling of the testicles and swollen glands in the neck).

Risk Category	Observed Side Effects
up to 1 in 1000 (0.1%)	Convulsions accompanying high fever • Allergic reactions
up to 1 in 100 (1%)	Infection of the middle ear • Swollen lymph glands (glands in the neck, armpit or groin) • Loss of appetite • Nervousness • Abnormal crying • Inability to sleep (insomnia) • Redness, irritation and watering of the eyes (conjunctivitis) • Bronchitis • Cough • Swollen parotid glands (glands in the cheek) • Diarrhoea • Vomiting
up to 1 in 10 (1% to 10%)	Pain and swelling at the injection site • Fever higher than 39.5°C • Rash (spots) • Upper respiratory tract infection
> 1 in 10 (10%)	Redness at the injection site • Fever of 38°C or higher