Mumps vaccine update

Merck has announced that it does not intend to resume production of Mumpsvax, its single mumps vaccine. There are other single mumps vaccines made around the world but most either cause an unacceptable level of side effects (primarily aseptic meningitis) or are ineffective.
BabyJabs is working with manufacturers and importers in an attempt to procure a safe and effective single mumps vaccine for use in the UK. BabyJabs apologises for our current inability to offer this vaccine.
However, we also wish to reiterate our previous advice that we do not consider mumps vaccination essential. Mumps is nearly always a mild and harmless illness and the risk of serious or long-term complications is extremely small. The most common concern is that mums may cause infertility in boys. Whilst mumps can – probably (it has never been proven beyond any doubt) - cause infertility, this is extremely rare and is only considered a risk to boys after puberty. Parents concerned about this could reasonably delay giving their son the mumps vaccine until 12 years of age and consider giving the vaccine then, by when it will hopefully be available. If the single vaccine were to remain unavailable then the MMR could be considered at this time as the triple vaccine may cause less side effects when given to older children.