Top 12 Vaccines You Should Know About

7. Rotavirus Vaccine

Rotavirus is a viral infection that can cause severe gastroenteritis (stomach flu) in infants and children, leading the dehydration and, in some cases, death. Rotavirus is the most common cause of childhood diarrhea worldwide. Roughly 80% of rotavirus deaths occur in the developing world.12

Prior to the development of a rotavirus vaccine, an estimated three million cases occurred in the United States every year.13

There are two rotavirus vaccines licensed for use, each of which are delivered orally (by mouth).2

8. Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

The MMR vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects against three different diseases:14

• Measles is a viral disease spread by respiratory droplets or airborne transmission that causes a widespread rash and can lead to encephalopathy (brain damage).
• Mumps is a viral disease that causes the painful inflammation of the salivary glands and can also affect the pancreas, testicles, and brain.
• Rubella (German measles) is a viral disease that affects the skin, lymph nodes, and joints. It can cause birth defects in babies if an infection occurs during pregnancy.

There are two MMR vaccines approved for use in the United States.