Mumps

Your Complete Guide to the Mumps Vaccine: Benefits, Side Effects, and Key Information

What is the Mumps Vaccine?

The mumps vaccine protects against the mumps virus, which can cause swelling of the salivary glands and complications like orchitis (swelling of the testes), meningitis, and hearing loss. Mumps is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets. The mumps vaccine is usually given as part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) combination vaccine and is essential in preventing outbreaks, particularly in close-contact settings like schools.