Mumps is a disease caused by the mumps virus. The most obvious symptom is swelling of the parotid gland, which leads to swollen cheeks. In addition, patients often show fever and an inflammation of other body glands. In rare cases, an inflammation of the brain or meninges can occur which can result in irreversible damage to one`s hearing. If the disease occurs after puberty, there is a risk of sterility if inflammation has occured in the sexual organs.
When and how often should I be vaccinated against mumps?
In Switzerland, the vaccine is part of the standard vaccination schedule and is given together with the measles vaccine at 9 and 12 months of age. If you have not yet received a vaccination against mumps and have not had the disease, it is essential to have 2 vaccinations with a minimum interval of one month.
Price: 37-96 CHF per dose plus consultation and injection fee
What else should I know about the mumps vaccine?
In the 1990s in Switzerland, the Triviraten Berna vaccine was mainly used to protect against measles, mumps and rubella. During the two mumps epidemics in Switzerland in 1994-1995 and 1999-2000, an astonishingly high proportion of mumps-infected persons were vaccinated with Triviraten Berna. Several studies later proved that Triviraten Berna protects against measles and rubella, but not against mumps. Therefore it is recommended that all persons who were previously vaccinated with the Triviraten Berna vaccine now get revaccinated with a new mumps vaccine.
In Switzerland, vaccination against the mumps is only available in a combination vaccine with the measles and rubella.
For more information on mumps, please visit the website of the FOPH.
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