Overview
- Mumps is a serious disease caused by a virus.
- It is spread person-to-person through the air.
- Mumps typically causes painful swelling of the salivary glands near the cheeks, but it can also lead to deafness, brain or spinal cord infection, and painful swelling of the testicles.
- Mumps virus is very contagious, so when one person gets infected, it’s easy for the disease to spread. Mumps outbreaks can start when infected people bring the disease into the United States from other countries.
- Vaccination is the best way to prevent mumps. Vaccinated people who contract mumps because of very close contact with an infected person typically have a milder illness than unvaccinated people.
Mumps Vaccine Schedule
In the United States, mumps vaccine is available as part of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine. All children should get 2 doses of MMR vaccine starting at age 12 months. Some teens and adults may also need MMR vaccine if they didn’t get 2 doses when they were younger.
Partner Resources
Fact sheets, resources, multimedia, and more for parents and children from CDC.
Two doses of the MMR shot are recommended for children by doctors as the best way to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella. Learn more about mumps and vaccines from CDC. A Spanish-language version is also available.
Find easy-to-understand vaccine information for yourself or your loved ones.
Questions and answers about measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and vaccines from the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
About the infection, including signs and symptoms, contagiousness, prevention, incubation, duration, and treatment, from Nemours KidsHealth. A Spanish-language version is also available.
MMR Vaccine—Vaccines and Your Baby
The MMR vaccine is a combination of three vaccines in one. This vaccine prevents measles, mumps, and rubella.
People of any age can feel a bit anxious about getting a shot. Some may be so anxious that they avoid vaccination…even when they know it’s important. Learn more about simple ways to help any child or adult feel better and more confident when getting vaccinated.