| Vaccine description | |
|---|---|
| Target disease | Mumps |
| Type | Attenuated virus |
| Clinical data | |
| MedlinePlus | a601176 |
| Pregnancy cat. | ? |
| Legal status | ? |
| Identifiers | |
| ATC code | J07BE01 |
| (what is this?) (verify) |
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Several varieties of mumps vaccine have been used since 1949, and at least 10 strains were in use in 2006:[1]
The first vaccine was a killed mumps virus vaccine developed in 1948 and used in the United States from 1950-1978. This vaccine produced little immune memory, thus had a short duration of effect. In the U.S.A. it was supplanted by Mumpsvax and then MMR.[1]
All subsequent preparations have been live virus attenuated by multiple passages through animal cells of one or more species. No human diploid cell vaccine is currently in use.
Contents |
Monovalent mumps vaccine (Mumpsvax) remained available in the U.S.A when MMR was introduced. in the UK the introduction of mumps vaccine was by MMR replacing the MR (measles and rubella) mixed vaccine. No UK-licenced monovalent preparation was ever available. This became the subject of considerable argument at the end of the 20th century, since some parents preferred to obtain individually the components of the MMR mixture. One single mumps vaccine preparation imported into the United Kingdom proved to be essentially ineffective[6]. Immunisation against Mumps in the UK became routine in 1988, commencing with MMR. The Aventis-Pasteur "MMR-2" brand is usual in the UK in 2006.
A different monovalent Mumps vaccine is routinely used in Russia.
The cold chain is a major consideration in vaccination, particularly in less-developed countries. Mumps vaccines are normally refrigerated, but have a long half-life of 65 days at 23 degrees Celsius.[1]