Mumps - Health Freedom Ireland

Disease	Risk of getting	Risk of death
mumps	approx 1 in 7,000 (0.01%). Risk of hospitalisation: approx 1 in 178,000 (0.0006%)	Pre vaccine (1988) – negligible

What is mumps?

Mumps is a virus that causes fever and swelling of the salivary glands in the cheeks. It is transmitted like the common cold and usually confers lasting immunity. The swelling of the cheeks is usually the most telling sign of mumps, and a blood test can be used to confirm the diagnosis. Mumps is generally a mild illness.

Symptoms can involve a minor fever, sore throat, swollen glands in the cheeks and usually resolve themselves after 10 days. In up to 40% of cases there are no symptoms and in up to 50% of cases symptoms are nonspecific or primarily respiratory so parents may not even realise their child has mumps. According to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC);

“Most infections in children less than two years old are subclinical (no apparent symptoms)”.

This German study found that the median age of mumps increased after initiating vaccines. Those most at risk of complications are post pubertal males where mumps orchitis causes swelling of the testicles. Mumps orchitis rarely leads to sterility .

Well nourished children have little to fear from mumps and perhaps something to gain:

This study from the University of Berne, Switzerland [Introduction – 4] concluded: “study consistently revealed a lower cancer risk for patients with a history of FICD [febrile infectious childhood diseases].”
The Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) study concluded that measles and mumps, especially in the case of both infections, were associated with lower risks of mortality from cardiovascular disease.
In females, there may be a distinct benefit in having clinical mumps in terms of a protective effect against ovarian cancer .

What is the risk of getting mumps in Ireland?

The risk of getting mumps in Ireland during the period between 2012 and 2018 was approximately 1 in 7,000 (.01%) for all ages. Risk of hospitalisation was approximately 1 in 178,000 (0.0006%) for all ages.

What is the risk of death from mumps in Ireland?

There have been no deaths from mumps for anyone under 75 in over 50 years.

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 MMR vaccine guarantee protection from mumps?

No – you may still get mumps if vaccinated. In the years between 2010 and 2018, of the 4,952 cases of mumps, almost 90% were vaccinated. In December 2021, NBC news reported that the Centre for Disease in the USA found that as many as 94% of mumps cases were in those that were vaccinated.

Are the MMR vaccines safe?

All vaccines come with risks, some very serious. Below is a list of the potential side effects as per 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