VACCINATIONS
Because many young people are still missing the second vaccination, the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends completing the protection. Since there has been no single vaccination against mumps, measles or rubella in Germany, vaccination is only possible with a 3in1 combination vaccine.
The Vaccination is well tolerated despite possible vaccination reactions. Usual side effects are fever or tiredness. Occasionally, nearby lymph nodes also swell. Short-term general symptoms such as a slight to moderate increase in temperature, headaches, fatigue or gastrointestinal complaints can also occur. Local reactions are redness and swelling at the injection site, which will subside after a few days.
Since it is a live vaccine with weakened viruses, one to four weeks after the vaccination, about two to five out of 100 vaccinated people can be observed to have mild, non-transmissible "vaccination measles": fever combined with a mild measles-like rash. A slight swelling of the parotid gland is also occasionally possible.
Joint problems have been reported in adolescents and adults. Slight swelling of the testicles or an equally slight reaction of the pancreas are rarely observed. Such vaccination reactions are usually temporary and subside without consequences. They are a sign that the body is dealing with the vaccination and is producing antibodies.
MORE INFORMATION:
MUMPS
In Germany there are always waves of disease with mumps. Adolescents and young adults are affected in more than half of the cases.
Mumps is primarily characterized by inflammation and swelling of the parotid glands. About a third of young children who contract mumps do not develop any signs of the disease themselves. Nevertheless, they can infect others. Around 700 cases of mumps are reported each year in Germany.
Mumps is a transmissible viral disease that occurs worldwide and in all seasons.
usually transmitted through coughing and sneezing or direct contact with saliva
A typical sign is swelling of the parotid gland on one or both sides. Because not all children develop this symptom, mumps is often not recognized and mistaken for a harmless infection.
However, mumps can also be more severe: up to ten percent of those infected develop meningitis as a result of the infection, which usually heals without consequences. Inflammation of the brain occurs in less than one percent of those affected. It can cause permanent damage such as paralysis or, in isolated cases, be fatal.
The older boys who get mumps are, the more likely it is that the testicles will also become infected. This occurs in about every third male affected after puberty. The painful inflammation of the testicles can limit fertility. However, infertility is rare. In older girls and women, mammary glands and, rarely, ovaries can become inflamed.
As with almost all viral diseases, only the symptoms of mumps can be treated, not the disease itself.
While receiving a two-dose vaccination for mumps can significantly reduce the risk of contracting the disease, it is still possible to get mumps even after being fully vaccinated. However, those who have received both doses of the vaccination tend to have a milder case of the illness and a lower risk of complications.
____________________________________________________________________________________
MEASLES
is one of the most contagious infectious diseases in humans. It is transmitted from person to person, for example through sneezing or speaking, and almost all people without immunity will become ill after coming into contact with the virus.
Measles begins with strong, flu-like symptoms: These include a high fever, cough and runny nose. After a few days, the typical measles rash develops and the fever rises again. The rash starts on the face and behind the ears, then spreads over the body and disappears in about three to four days. Most measles patients do not become seriously ill, but complications are possible.
Measles weaken the immune system for about six weeks. Therefore, additional pathogens can cause complications such as otitis media, bronchitis or pneumonia.
There is no specific treatment for measles; only the symptoms can be managed.
Infants born to mothers who have had measles themselves or to vaccinated mothers often have maternal antibodies against measles in the first few months of life, known as "nest protection." These antibodies disappear as the infant gets older.
Since infants are not typically vaccinated against measles until the age of 9 months, there is a period of time in which they are vulnerable to infection, known as the "immunity gap." Infants can be protected from infection during this time if at least 95% of the population is immune to measles, as this helps to prevent the disease from spreading in the population. This is known as a "cocoon strategy."
____________________________________________________________________________________
RUBELLA
is a viral infection that is spread through droplets in the air, such as when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
While it can cause symptoms like fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and red, itchy eyes, it is most dangerous for pregnant women. If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, it can lead to miscarriage or birth defects in the baby.
The virus is found all over the world and can be easily spread by people who do not even know they have it. In fact, it is contagious a week before the rash appears, and many infected children have no or only mild symptoms. Even if a person does have the rash, it is often not recognized as rubella because it is absent in over half of those infected.
The main reason for getting the rubella vaccine is to protect pregnant women and their babies. If a pregnant woman becomes infected with rubella, it can cause serious problems for the unborn child, even if the mother does not feel sick.
A relatively large proportion of today's youth are not fully vaccinated. So that young parents do not infect their unborn child, young people should check their vaccination protection and have any vaccination gaps closed as soon as possible.
Resources:
https://www.impfen-info.de/impfempfehlungen/fuer-jugendliche-12-17-jahre/masern/
https://www.impfen-info.de/impfempfehlungen/fuer-jugendliche-12-17-jahre/mumps/
https://www.impfen-info.de/impfempfehlungen/fuer-jugendliche-12-17-jahre/roeteln/
MOST POPULAR
