Vaccines: VDP-VAC/combo/MMRV/FAQs Options for Parents and Caregivers

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The Varicella Chicken Pox vaccine is documented to increase the MMR seizure rate from the normal 1/3500 to 1/2500 when the MMR and Varicella are given at the same visit, to 1/1250 when the ProQuad MMRV Four in One Combo shot is used. Febrile seizures often result in emergency room visits and even spinal taps. Vaccines and Immunizations
Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:

Q&As About the Options for Protecting Your Child Against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella
Information for Parents and Caregivers

To be protected against measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), and varicella (chickenpox), children need to be vaccinated twice: once when they are 12 through 15 months old, and again when they are 4 through 6 years old. To prevent these diseases, two vaccination options are available. A child can receive two shots: the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the varicella vaccine, or one shot: the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.

Questions and Answers:

How do I decide which option to use for my childs first vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella?

Your doctor can discuss using MMR and varicella vaccines or MMRV vaccine with you to help you make an informed decision for your child. There are risks and benefits with each option. For a 12- through 47-month-old childs first vaccination against these diseases, there is one major trade-off to consider. Using the MMRV vaccine means that a child will only have to have one shot to provide protection against the four diseases (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella). However, the MMRV vaccine has been associated with a higher risk of two side effects that you should know about when it is used for the first vaccination among children who are 12 through 47 months old. First, children who get the MMRV vaccine for their first vaccinations are more likely to have fever of 102F or higher within 42 days of being vaccinated than those who get the MMR and varicella vaccines at the same visit for their first vaccinations. Studies have shown that out of every 100 children who are 12 through 23 months old and get the MMRV vaccine for their first vaccinations, about 22 have fever of 102F or higher within the 42 days following vaccination compared with 15 out of every 100 who get the MMR and varicella vaccines at the same visit. Most of this increase in fever occurs during the 5 to 12 days after vaccination only. Second, two studies have shown that children who get the MMRV vaccine for their first

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vaccinations when they are 12 through 23 months old are about twice as likely to have a febrile seizure in the 5 to 12 days following vaccination compared with those who receive the MMR and varicella vaccines at the same visit. However, its important to remember that the overall risk of febrile seizures is very low for both options (about 8 out of every 10,000 children who get the MMRV vaccine for their first vaccinations when they are 12 through 23 months old, and about 4 out of every 10,000 children who get the MMR and varicella vaccines at the same visit for their first vaccinations when they are 12 through 23 months old).

MMRV Combo Seizures 1/1250 Doses

Studies of febrile seizures after vaccination with first dose of MMRV vaccine have not MMR & been done in older children, but experts agree that this increased risk of febrile seizures VARICELLA during the 5 to 12 days after the first vaccination with MMRV vaccine likely also occurs in children aged 24 through 47 months, but not in children who are 48 months or older Separate because febrile seizures are uncommon after this age. For the first dose of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines given at ages 48 months and older, using the MMRV vaccine is generally preferred over using the MMR and varicella vaccines because it requires one less injection to provide similar protection with no known additional risks of side effects. See the ACIP Recommendations.

Shots Seizures 1/2500 Doses

Is there an increased risk of febrile seizures after vaccination with the MMR vaccine?

Among children who are younger than 7 years old, approximately one additional febrile seizure occurs in the 8 to 14 days after vaccination for every 3,000-4,000 children vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, compared with children not vaccinated during the preceding 30 days.
Is there an increased risk of febrile seizures after vaccination with the varicella vaccine?

Studies have not shown an increased risk of febrile seizure after varicella vaccine.

MMR Alone Seizures 1/3500

What is the risk of febrile seizures after the first dose of MMRV vaccine compared with the first dose of MMR and varicella vaccines administered at the same doctor visit?

Its important to understand that both options have a very small risk of febrile seizure as a side effect. For children who get the MMRV vaccine for their first vaccinations when they are 12 through 23 months old, about 8 out of every 10,000 will have a febrile seizure. For children who get the MMR and varicella vaccines at the same visit for their first vaccinations when they are 12 through 23 months old, about 4 out of every 10,000 will have a febrile seizure.

What is a febrile seizure?

"Febrile" means "relating to a fever." In some children, having a fever can bring on a

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seizure. During a febrile seizure, a child often has spasms or jerking movementslarge or smalland may lose consciousness. Febrile seizures usually last only a minute or two. They are most common with fevers reaching 102F (38.9C) or higher, but can also occur at lower temperatures or when a fever is going back down.
What kinds of things can cause febrile seizures?

Febrile seizures may happen with any condition that causes a fever, including typical childhood illnesses like ear infections or even the common cold. Measles was a common cause of febrile seizures in the U.S. before it became a rare disease due to the success of the vaccination program.
Who is most at risk for febrile seizures?

Febrile seizures are not uncommon. About 2-5% of young children will have at least one febrile seizure. Most febrile seizures occur in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. The peak age is 14 through18 months, which overlaps with the ages when first doses of the MMRV, MMR, and varicella vaccines are recommended. A child who has already had a febrile seizure is more likely to have another one. Also if a member of a child's immediate family (a brother, sister, or parent) has had febrile seizures, that child is more likely to have a febrile seizure.
How serious is a febrile seizure?

Most children who have febrile seizures recover quickly and have no lasting effects. However, febrile seizures often result in a visit to an emergency room and can be very frightening for parents and caregivers. About 1 in 3 children who have one febrile seizure will have at least one more febrile seizure. Most children (>90%) will not develop epilepsy. Genetic predisposition and other factors such as cerebral palsy, delayed development, or other neurological abnormalities increase the risk for future development of epilepsy after a febrile seizure.

Up to 9% of Febrile Seizures go on to develop epilepsy

Two studies have shown that children who have febrile seizures after receiving an MMR vaccine are no more likely to have epilepsy or learning or developmental problems than children who have febrile seizures that are not associated with a vaccine. Experts believe it is likely that this finding for MMR vaccine applies to MMRV vaccine as well.

Is there an increased risk of fever or febrile seizures associated with the MMRV vaccine when it is used as a second dose?

Studies do not suggest that children who are 4 through 6 years old and receive the MMRV vaccine have an increased risk of febrile seizures after vaccination when compared with those who receive the MMR and varicella vaccines at the same doctor visit. In addition, the second dose of MMRV vaccine is less likely to cause fever than the first dose.
How do I decide which option to use for my childs second vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella, and

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Many parents don't consider a doubling of the seizure rate a worthwhile tradeoff.
varicella?

For the second dose given at any age (15 months through 12 years), use of the MMRV vaccine is generally preferred over using the MMR and varicella vaccines because it requires one less injection to provide similar protection with no known additional risks of side effects. See the ACIP Recommendations.
Why is it important that my child be fully vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella?

Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella are all potentially serious diseases. Measles causes rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever. Complications can include ear infection, pneumonia, seizures (jerking or staring), brain damage, and death. Mumps causes fever, headache, and swollen glands. Complications can include deafness, meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord covering), painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and, rarely, death. Rubella causes rash, mild fever, and arthritis (mostly in women). If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects. Varicella (chickenpox) causes rash, itching, fever, and tiredness. Complications can include severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, or death.

This page last modified on March 2, 2011 Content last reviewed on May 7, 2010 Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Page Located on the Web at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/combovaccines/mmrv/vacopt-faqs-parent.htm

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