Mumps
About one out of four men who get mumps have painfully swollen testicles that may lead to sterility in rare cases. For one out of 10 women who get mumps, the ovaries will be infected and painful.
- Read more about the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine that children receive in Alberta.
Alberta’s mumps outbreak
An outbreak of mumps cases is occuring in Alberta, primarily among post-secondary students. The majority of these cases have occurred among young people age 17 to 26 years.
- People in this age group received only one dose of the mumps vaccine when they were children. Over the years, the single vaccination may wear off, leaving the individual vulnerable to the infection. A second dose of the MMR vaccine is recommended for this age group.
In November 2007, Alberta Health and Wellness and the health regions began offering free mumps immunizations to students and staff of the province’s post-secondary institutions who were born in 1970 or later. In phase two of the campaign, the vaccine will also be made available free of charge to young adults provincewide, born between 1980 and 1990.
- People under 17 years of age do not need to be immunized as they have already received the second vaccine as a child.
- People born in Canada before 1970 and those with a history of mumps are considered immune.
Mumps clinics
As of May 2008, the mumps immunization program for Albertans born 1980 to 1990 has resumed in all of the province’s health regions.
- To make an appointment, or for information on clinic schedules, contact your local public health unit.
- See the mumps immunization promotion posters: and Jill.
(Used and modified with permission from the Government of Nova Scotia)
Clinic information
For more information on the location and times of the clinics in your area, call Health Link Alberta:
- In Calgary, 403-943-5465;
- In Edmonton, 780-408-5465;
- Outside Edmonton and Calgary, 1-866-408-5465 (toll-free); or
