Accessible Mumps Vaccine: Services Available in Queensland, Australia
Vaccination offers protection by helping the immune system recognise and combat infectious diseases. This reduces the risk of illness, complications, and transmission in order to safeguard individual and community health. At Coolangatta Medical Centre, we will work with you to address all your health needs by providing you the information you need about mumps vaccines and how they can help protect you and your loved ones.
What are Mumps?
Mumps is a contagious illness caused by the paramyxovirus, a virus from the Rubulavirus family.1 This affects the parotid glands, which function to produce saliva. When infected, these glands swell up on each side of the face, which result in puffy cheeks and a tender or painful jaw. Other mumps symptoms that accompany the disease can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Trouble chewing
- Loss of appetite
Loss of appetite, trouble chewing as well as headaches can be due to the swelling of the parotid glands, which can make it uncomfortable to eat, sleep, and do other daily activities.
Mumps are spread through tiny droplets of fluid from the nose and mouth, making contamination very likely just by coughing, sneezing, or talking. It can also be spread by sharing items such as cups and utensils or touching objects with unwashed hands. Mumps is even contagious before swelling occurs and up to 5 days after the swelling begins.3
While mumps can be more common in unvaccinated children ages 2-12, however mumps can cause severe complications in adults especially when left untreated:4
- Inflammation of the testicles (orchitis); leading to testicular atrophy
- Inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) and/or breast tissue (mastitis)
- Inflammation in the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
- Inflammation of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
- Deafness
Why Mumps Vaccination Matters in Australia
From 1999–2019, on average, about 500,000 mumps cases were reported to the World Health Organization annually.8 According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the peak incidence rates were seen in young to middle-aged adults.9
There is a likelihood that the patients in this case may have missed their mumps vaccinations as a child and were born at a time when circulating disease was low. Since then, cases have increased, from 2.7 per 100,000 population in 2015 and up to 3.4 per 100,000 population in 2017.
Mumps are spread easily through tiny droplets of fluid from the nose and mouth, making contamination very likely just by coughing, sneezing, or talking. Mumps can also be contagious even before swelling occurs and up to 5 days after the swelling begins.
Mumps prevention through MMR vaccination shields individuals and communities from the disease, curbing transmission and preventing mumps outbreaks, ensuring collective health and well-being.
Mumps Vaccine at Coolangatta Medical Centre
At Coolangatta Medical Centre, we will work with you to address all your health needs. Safeguarding your health is our priority, and we offer vaccination services against Mumps at our clinic.
With mumps being a highly contagious viral infection, it can cause significant risks of transmission and long-term complications. By receiving your mumps vaccine, you not only protect yourself but also contribute to community immunity, preventing mumps outbreaks and keeping vulnerable individuals safer. Taking your mumps vaccination is a proactive step towards a healthier, safer future for yourself and those around you. Visit our clinic today or call us at 07 5599 1400 or book your appointment here.
