Answer the side-effect intent for mmr vaccine without diagnosing; distinguish common from serious reactions and give safe next-step/reporting guidance.
Part of vaccines & immunisation side effects.
Sources
This page covers measles, mumps and rubella vaccines — a group of products, not a single one. Each statement below is taken from the SAHPRA-approved patient information leaflet named beside it:
- MEASLES Rubella Cipla (measles, approved 23/05/2023)
- OMZYTA® Powder and Solvent for Suspension for Injection (mumps, approved 26/01/2026)
Retrieved 2026-09-03. Your own medicine’s leaflet is the one that applies to you, and where it differs from this page the leaflet is correct.
What is MMR vaccine?
Measles, mumps and rubella vaccines covers several products registered in South Africa, not one. They work in a similar way, and their approved leaflets do not list identical side effects.
The medicines covered here, and the leaflet used for each:
- measles — MEASLES Rubella Cipla, CIPLA MEDPRO (PTY) LTD (Powder and solvent for solution for subcutaneous injection)
- mumps — OMZYTA® Powder and Solvent for Suspension for Injection, MSD (Pty) Ltd (Powder and Solvent for Suspension for Injection)
Check your own pack
Two medicines in the same group can differ in their approved uses, their cautions and their side effects. The leaflet inside your pack is the one that applies to you.
Common side effects of MMR vaccine
Each medicine in this group has its own approved leaflet, and the effects below are the ones that leaflet lists. They are shown separately rather than combined, because the leaflets do not agree on what to list or how to word it.
Measles (MEASLES Rubella Cipla)
- Fever 136
- Injection-site reactions such as redness, pain, swelling, tenderness, hardness, nodule 137 formation; 138
- Rash; 139
- Enlarged lymph nodes; 140
- Muscle pain, weakness, numbness; 141
- Red eyes; 142
- Coryza and cold, sore throat; 143
- Headache; 144
- A general feeling of discomfort. 145 146
- Diarrhoea, vomiting; 148
- Cough 149
- Seizures (fits) with or without fever, isolated reactions or illnesses involving inflammation of 150 the nervous system (brain and/or spinal cord), fainting; 151
The leaflet lists 5 more. Read the full leaflet.
Mumps (OMZYTA® Powder and Solvent for Suspension for Injection)
- swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
- rash or itching
- fainting
- yellowing of the skin and eyes, also called jaundice
- These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you have had a serious allergic reaction to OMZYTA. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. The most common is burning and/or stinging at the injection site for a short time. Transient joint pain and/or swelling have occurred more frequently in adult females; sometimes these symptoms may be chronic. Occasionally, fever and rash may occur. Rarely, unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin and swelling of the testicles, and skin granuloma (clumps of inflammatory cells) may occur. Other side effects may also occur rarely and some of these may be serious. These include allergic reactions, seizures and inflammation of the nervous system (brain and/or spinal cord). Like all vaccines and medicines, this vaccine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following: The following side effects were reported with the use of OMZYTA: Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 vaccinees)
- fever (38,5 °C or higher)
- injection site redness; injection site pain; injection site swelling. Common (may affect 1 to 10 in 100 vaccinees)
- rash (including measles-like rash)
- injection site bruising. Uncommon (may affect 1 to 10 in 1 000 vaccinees)
- nasal congestion and sore throat; upper respiratory tract infection or viral infection; runny nose
- diarrhoea, vomiting
- hives
The leaflet lists 20 more. Read the full leaflet.
Serious side effects and warning signs
None of the leaflets reviewed set out a separate serious-effects list.
General warning signs that apply to any medicine
Call for emergency help now if any of these happen
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the throat or chest
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
- A widespread rash with blistering or peeling skin, or sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
- Fainting, collapse, or a sudden severe drop in alertness
- Chest pain, or sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- A fit (seizure), or confusion that comes on suddenly
In South Africa call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone. Go to your nearest emergency department if it is faster. Do not wait to see whether the symptom settles.
How long can side effects last?
How long a side effect lasts depends on the effect, the product, how long it has been used, and the person. Some effects ease within days as the body adjusts. Others continue for as long as the product is used. A few can persist after stopping, and some need review rather than waiting.
- Settling effects — mild effects that ease over the first days or weeks of use
- Ongoing effects — effects that continue while the product is being used and improve after stopping
- Persistent effects — effects that continue after stopping and need medical review
- Delayed effects — effects that appear after weeks or months rather than immediately
Which of these applies to a particular effect is a clinical question. If a side effect is not settling, is getting worse, or is affecting your daily life, that is worth a conversation with a pharmacist or doctor regardless of how long it has been going on.
Evidence required before publish — source the following for MMR vaccine from the SAHPRA-approved patient information leaflet or professional information, and cite what you actually used.
- Anything the approved information for MMR vaccine says about how long specific effects last
- Whether the source describes any effect as usually temporary, or as needing review if it persists
- Whether any effect is described as continuing after the product is stopped
Factors that may affect side effects
Cautions from each medicine’s approved leaflet.
Measles (MEASLES Rubella Cipla)
Do not use it at all if:
- If you or your child are hypersensitive (allergic) to measles and /or rubella or any of the 47 ingredients of this vaccine, including gelatin. 48
- If you or your child are allergic to neomycin, which is an antibiotic 49
- If you or your child experienced a severe reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine or other 50 measles or rubella containing vaccines; 51
- If you or your child are allergic to cow’s milk; 52
- If you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant within the next three months (in addition, 53 pregnancy should be avoided for one month after vaccination, see Pregnancy); 54
- If you or your child have a poor or weakened immune system for any reason, such as illness 55 or medical treatments; 56
Use with care, and tell your doctor, if:
- If you or your child have a history or family history of allergies or 63
- If you or your child had a side effect after previous vaccination with measles or rubella 64 containing vaccine that involved easy bruising or bleeding for longer than usual; 65
- If you or your child have infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); 66
- If you or your child have or have had any medical problems; 67
- If you or your child have received blood or plasma transfusions or human serum globulin in 68 the past 3 months. 69 70 Other medicines with Measles Rubella Cipla: 71 Always tell your health care provider if you or your child are taking any other medicine, including 72 complementary, herbal or traditional medicines as these medicines may affect the immune response 73 to Measles Rubella Cipla. 74 The doctor may delay vaccination for at least 3 months following plasma or blood transfusions, or 75 immunoglobulin (known as IG). After vaccination with Measles Rubella Cipla, IG should not be given 76 for one month, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. 77 Measles Rubella Cipla may be given with some routine childhood vaccines such as DTP, DT, TT, Td, 78 BCG, Polio vaccine (OPV and IPV), Haemophilus influenzae type b, Hepatitis B, Yellow fever vaccine 79 and vitamin A supplementation. 80
Mumps (OMZYTA® Powder and Solvent for Suspension for Injection)
Do not use it at all if:
- are allergic to any of its components (including neomycin)
- are pregnant (in addition, pregnancy should be avoided for 1 to 3 months after vaccination)
- have a fever
- have active untreated tuberculosis
- are taking medications to suppress their immune system (other than corticosteroid replacement)
- have a blood disorder or any type of cancer that affects their immune system
Use with care, and tell your doctor, if:
- Tell the doctor about any medical problems your child has or has had, and about any allergies (especially to neomycin)
- Tell the doctor if your child has a history of convulsions or a brain injury, a low blood platelet count, or have received blood or plasma transfusions or administration of human serum globulin within the last 3 months
- Children OMZYTA should be used in children 12 months of age or older
- However, your doctor may recommend that OMZYTA be given to infants between 6 to 12 months of age in special situations
What to do if you experience side effects
If you think you are having a side effect, the response depends on how severe it is. Use the warning signs above first — if any of those apply, treat it as urgent.
If the symptom is severe or frightening
Get medical help immediately. Call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone, or go to the nearest emergency department. Take the product and its packaging with you if you can.
If the symptom is mild but bothering you
- Write down what the symptom is, when it started, and how it relates to when you take the product
- Check the leaflet that came with the product to see whether the symptom is listed
- Speak to your pharmacist — for many questions this is the fastest route to a useful answer
- Contact the prescriber if the symptom is affecting your daily life or is not settling
Do not stop a prescribed treatment on your own
Stopping some treatments suddenly causes its own problems, and the condition being treated may get worse. If you want to stop, ask a pharmacist or doctor how to do it safely — they can usually offer an alternative.
You can also report a suspected side effect in South Africa. Reporting does not replace getting medical advice, and you do not need to be certain the product was the cause.
When to seek urgent medical help
Some symptoms need medical attention straight away rather than an appointment in a few days. Do not wait to see whether they settle.
Call for emergency help now if any of these happen
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the throat or chest
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
- A widespread rash with blistering or peeling skin, or sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
- Fainting, collapse, or a sudden severe drop in alertness
- Chest pain, or sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- A fit (seizure), or confusion that comes on suddenly
In South Africa call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone. Go to your nearest emergency department if it is faster. Do not wait to see whether the symptom settles.
Get same-day medical advice if you have
- A high fever, or a rash together with feeling generally unwell
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin, or unusually dark urine
- Unusual bruising or bleeding that you cannot explain
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, especially if you cannot keep fluids down
- A sudden change in mood, or thoughts of harming yourself
- Any symptom that is rapidly getting worse
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself
Help is available in South Africa. The SADAG helpline is 0800 567 567, or you can go to your nearest emergency department. You do not have to wait until it feels like an emergency.
How to report a suspected side effect in South Africa
South Africa has an official system for reporting suspected side effects, run by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Reports from the public and from healthcare professionals are how safety signals get detected after a product is already in use.
Who can report
Anyone can report — you do not have to be a healthcare professional, and you do not need to prove that the product caused the problem. A suspicion is enough. Patients, caregivers and family members can all submit a report.
What to have ready
- The name of the product, its strength and form, and the batch number if you have it
- Why it was being used, and when it was started and stopped
- What the suspected reaction was, when it began, and how long it lasted
- Any other medicines, supplements or remedies being used at the same time
- Basic details about the person affected — age and sex are usually enough
How to report
SAHPRA accepts adverse reaction reports through its e-Services reporting system and through the Med Safety mobile app. Healthcare professionals can also report through the same routes. Current forms and access points are published on the SAHPRA site.
- SAHPRA Health Products Vigilance — the main vigilance and reporting hub
- SAHPRA e-Services — current adverse reaction reporting access
Reporting is not a substitute for medical care
If someone is unwell now, get medical help first and report afterwards. Urgent symptoms always take precedence over paperwork.
For a fuller walkthrough see how to report an adverse drug reaction.
Related pages
← Back to more medicine side effects.
Report a side effect
If you think you have had a side effect, you can report a suspected side effect in South Africa. Report a suspected side effect through the appropriate SAHPRA pathway where relevant.
Information only
This page gives general medicine-safety information for people in South Africa. It is not a diagnosis and not personalised medical advice. It cannot tell you whether a symptom you are having is caused by a particular product. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor about your own situation, and do not stop or change a prescribed treatment on the basis of a web page.
Editorial status: draft — not for publication
Brief SE-00438 · build rank 438 · Phase 2 · Tier 2. Every evidence slot on this page must be completed from the SAHPRA-approved source and the page signed off by a qualified clinical or pharmacy reviewer before it is published. Target length 1,300–2,000 words.