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Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Chicken Pox (Varicella)
Sofia Mannucci
Department of Nursing, Lone Star College - Cy-Fair
RSNG 1309-5001: Introduction to Nursing
Dr. Keck, Professor Valdez, Professor Reed
March 29, 2023
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Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Chicken Pox (Varicella)
In South America, a study performed by the University of Antioquia in Colombia
revealed that “the number of deaths and the adjusted rates decreased since 1989 in all diseases”
(Arango- Úsuga et al., 2022) within populations that received vaccinations. Vaccine-preventable
diseases (VPDs) have been researched thoroughly in order to develop high standards of care and
prevention. Multiple prevention strategies and standards of care exist for different diseases and
following them help individuals live a healthier day-to-day life. These standards are promoted by
public health agencies, and they encourage citizens to follow proper hygiene and receive
vaccinations in order to prevent the spread of these illnesses.
Vaccine-preventable diseases are conditions that can be prevented by the administration
of a vaccine. Measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox (varicella) are some of the most common
vaccine-preventable diseases. Measles is a highly contagious virus that “spreads through the air
when a person coughs or sneezes” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021b).
Signs and symptoms include red eyes, fever, runny nose, cough, and a small rash. Mumps is a
virus transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets or saliva. It is characterized by
“fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Then, most people will have
swelling of their salivary glands (often referred to as parotitis when the parotid gland, in front
and below the ear, swells). This is what causes the puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw”
(CDC, 2021d). Rubella, also known as German Measles, and Three-Day Measles, is a contagious
virus that is transmitted through inhaling secretions from sneezes or coughs, and through
pregnancy from an infected mom to her fetus (CDC, 2020c). Rubella presents as a mild illness
with fever, sore throat, headache, and discomfort. In a pregnant woman who is infected, it “can
cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects in an unborn baby” (CDC, 2021a). Lastly,
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chickenpox (varicella) is caused by a highly contagious virus, called varicella-zoster virus, that is
transmitted through “direct contact, inhalation of aerosols from vesicular fluid of skin lesions of
acute varicella or zoster, and possibly through infected respiratory secretions that also may be
aerosolized” (CDC, 2022c). Chickenpox causes an itchy, blister-like rash on the upper trunk and
face, and then spreads to other areas of the body.
The most effective method of preventing vaccine-preventable diseases is through the
administration of immunizations. Not only do immunizations help an individual stay protected
from catching a disease, but they also minimize the spread of the disease, and reduce the severity
of symptoms of those who are infected. The best method for preventing the acquisition of
measles, mumps, and rubella, is through receiving the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) or
MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) vaccines. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (2020a), the MMR vaccine is a 3-in-1 combination that stimulates
immunity for all three diseases, preventing the spread of it. This vaccine is deemed as safe, with
minimal side effects that include sore arm, fever, mild rash, and temporary discomfort. The
MMRV vaccine is a 4-in-1 combination effective against measles, mumps, and rubella, and
chickenpox (varicella). This vaccine has mild side effects including sore arm, fever, and a mild
rash. In rare cases, it may cause febrile seizures in children (CDC, 2020b). The standard of
prevention for varicella is through immunization against the varicella-zoster virus. There are two
vaccines available, the chickenpox vaccine (most commonly distributed), and the MMRV
vaccine previously mentioned. The side effects for either vaccine are minor and include sore
arm, fever, and a mild rash (CDC, 2020b). Although, immunizations are the key in preventing
sickness from any of these vaccine-preventable diseases, other crucial methods of precautions
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against acquiring vaccine-preventable diseases include frequent handwashing, and avoiding
contact with those infected, or those suspected of being infected.
The current recommendation for standards of care against measles, mumps, and rubella is
for children to “get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15
months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age” (CDC, 2021b), two doses have
proven to be 97% effective against acquiring measles. Receiving one dose of the MMRV vaccine
is a second option available for prevention of measles for children between the one and twelve
years of age. However, the MMRV vaccine should not be given to “anyone who has ever had a
life-threatening allergic reaction to the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of MMR
vaccine” (CDC, 2020b) due to the high chances of a fatal allergic reaction. The current standard
for prevention of chicken pox (varicella) is to administer two doses of the vaccine to “children,
adolescents, and adults who have never had chickenpox and were never vaccinated. Children are
routinely recommended to receive the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age and the second
dose at 4 through 6 years of age” (CDC, 2021e). The MMRR vaccine is another option to
prevent varicella and can be administered to children between the ages of 1 and 12 years. In
addition to the prevention of varicella, there is also an option to get the chickenpox vaccine after
exposure to the virus. This may help prevent the disease or lessen the symptoms and spread to
others. The chicken pox vaccine is contraindicated in those who have gotten the disease in the
past and have the antibodies, and those who are immunocompromised (CDC, 2021e).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hope to help globalize vaccine
access and administration in order to eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases. In order to achieve
this, they focus on five main goals: Prevent VPDs by strengthening immunization services,
detect VPDs by supporting and improving disease surveillance systems, respond to and prepare
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for VPD outbreaks, sustain immunization program capacities over time, and innovate to increase
immunization program impact through research and evaluation (CDC, 2022a). These goals are
achieved with the help of the STOP program: “a collaboration between CDC, the World Health
Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to train international
public health consultants to deploy to countries worldwide. STOP consultants help strengthen
national immunization surveillance programs, support supplemental immunization activities,
respond to disease outbreaks” (CDC, 2022b). Other global promotions include holidays
dedicated to personal hygiene. According to Dr. David Merendes (2018), “Global Handwashing
Day is celebrated annually on October 15 to promote handwashing with soap as an easy and
affordable way to prevent disease in communities around the world”. This teaches the
importance of handwashing and how it keeps humans healthy and prevents illness.
Despite the effectiveness of immunizations for vaccine-preventable diseases, society
today challenges every aspect of research against vaccinations for vaccine-preventable diseases.
It is crucial to understand and teach the science behind immunizations and why it is safer to
follow the recommended standards of prevention, rather than risking it and getting infected.
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References
Arango-Úsuga, C., Ochoa, J., León, A., & Hincapié-Palacio, D. (2022). Historical trends in
mortality from “older” vaccine-preventable diseases, Colombia: implications for
elimination and control. Public Health (Elsevier), 213, 157–162. https://web-s-ebscohostcom.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=523982a8-12c7-4295-b505e7c56d441154%40redis&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLGNwaWQmY3VzdGlkPXMxMD
g4NDM1JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=160580934&db=a9h
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020a, September 9). Measles, Mumps, Rubella
(MMR) Vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26, 2023,
from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/mmr-vaccine.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020b, September 9). Safety Information for
Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella Vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/mmrvvaccine.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020c, December 31). Rubella Transmission.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from
https://www.cdc.gov/rubella/about/transmission.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021a, January 26). About Rubella (German
Measles) Vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26,
2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rubella/index.html
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021b, January 26). Measles Vaccination. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/measles/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021c, January 26). Mumps Vaccination. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mumps/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021d, March 8). Mumps. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from
https://www.cdc.gov/mumps/hcp.html#:~:text=or%20congregate%20settings.,Transmission,with%20someone%20who%20has%20mumps.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021e, April 28). Chickenpox Vaccination: What
Everyone Should Know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26,
2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/varicella/public/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022a, January 6). CDC Global Immunization
Strategic Framework. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26,
2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/immunization/framework/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022b, April 26). STOP Program. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from
https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/immunization/stop/index.html
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022c, October 21). Chickenpox (Varicella) for
Healthcare Professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March
26, 2023, from
https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/hcp/index.html#:~:text=this%20is%20limited.,Transmission,that%20also%20may%20be%20aerosolized.
Merendes, D. M. (2018, October 15). 3 Reasons Why Handwashing Should Matter to You.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from
https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2018/10/handwashing-matters/