Limited data exists on the safety of MMR vaccine in adults. We reviewed reports of adverse events (AEs) to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) to assess safety in this previously under-studied group.
VAERS is the national spontaneous vaccine safety surveillance system co-administered by CDC and the FDA. We searched the VAERS database for US reports of adults aged 19 years and older who received MMR vaccine from January 1, 2003 to July 31, 2013. We clinically reviewed reports and available medical records for serious AEs, pregnancy reports, and reports for selected pre-specified outcomes.
During this period, VAERS received 3,175 US reports after MMR vaccine in adults. Of these, 168 (5%) were classified as serious, including 7 reports of death. Females accounted for 77% of reports. The most common signs and symptoms for all reports were pyrexia (19%), rash (17%), pain (13%) and arthralgia (13%). We did not detect any new safety findings in empirical Bayesian data mining. We identified 131 reports of MMR vaccine administered to a pregnant woman; the majority of these vaccinations were in the first trimester and in 83 (62%), no
AE was reported.
In our review of VAERS data, we did not detect any new or unexpected safety concerns for MMR vaccination in adults. We identified reports of pregnant women exposed to MMR which is a group in whom the vaccine is contraindicated, suggesting the need for continued provider education on vaccine recommendations and screening.
Source: Oxford Journals