The Health Service Executive is offering MMR vaccination to Transition, 5th and 6th Year students in secondary schools nationwide as part of a programme to combat a nationwide mumps outbreak in older teenagers and young adults.

The programme is being implemented before the summer break due to increasing reports of mumps amongst 15 – 24 year olds. According to HPSC director, Dr Darina O’Flanagan there has been a big increase in notifications reported since January 2009 – 2194 compared to 150 for the same period in 2008.

"This outbreak is happening because there are lots of older teenagers who have not had two doses of MMR vaccine and so are at risk of getting mumps. Outbreaks of mumps have been reported in secondary schools, colleges, universities, and sports clubs – that’s why the HSE has decided to offer this group a dose of MMR. It will protect them now, and when they leave school," she said.

Mumps is an acute viral illness that causes fever, headache and painful, swollen salivary glands. It requires isolation or quarantine, and can cause people to miss up to two weeks from school, work, studying, taking exams or socialising. Generally complications are mild but mumps can cause meningitis, deafness or inflammation of the pancreas or testicles. MMR vaccine provides protection from mumps, as well as measles and rubella.

Teams from HSE Public Health Departments and Local Health Offices have visited second level schools across the country to immunise students. MMR vaccine will be provided to all those in Transition, 5th and 6th years, free of charge, protecting those who get the vaccine from contracting mumps.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee, a committee of independent immunisation experts supports the HSE campaign to control this outbreak and to prevent future ones.

Recent studies estimate that one dose of MMR is approximately 80% effective and estimates for two doses of MMR range from 88-95% effective in preventing mumps illness. If a young person’s MMR history is not known, an extra dose of MMR will do no harm, and could offer valuable protection against mumps.

The HSE will be attending as many schools as possible in the weeks before the summer break, and any schools that are not targeted will be followed up in September. In addition, the HSE continues to advise those in 3rd level institutions to attend Student Health services for MMR vaccine.

Preventing mumps in other young adults

As the outbreak has affected many individuals (mainly those in the 15-24 year age group) all individuals (males and females are equally susceptible) less than 25 years of age are recommended to ensure that they have had two doses of MMR. If they do not have vaccination records documenting two doses they are advised to seek MMR vaccination from their GP or other health provider (e.g. student health service for students). The MMR vaccine is free to this age group. Payment for the GP visit may be required for non medical card holders. Student health services are free.

Individuals older than 24 years are usually immune from mumps as a result of natural infection. However, if individuals in older age groups wish to receive MMR vaccine this can be obtained from the GP (usually at cost). There is no upper age limit to the MMR vaccine.

Click on www.mumps.ie for more details.