Tamil Nadu has once again reiterated the need to introduce Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) in place of the existing Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine. Though not “alarming”, cases of mumps have been reported in the State over the last few years.
In a recent memorandum submitted to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, the State requested scientific consideration for introducing the MMR vaccine under the UIP, instead of the MR vaccine. The State had made a similar request to the Government of India (GoI) in 2024. Then, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine had written to the Union Health Ministry seeking its advice on the possibility of supplying MMR vaccine under routine immunisation to control all three diseases in Tamil Nadu. This was after cases of mumps were reported in various parts of the State that year.
Public health officials said that as of now, vaccination against mumps is not covered under the UIP. On the other hand, MMR is administered in private hospitals as per the immunisation schedule of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP). “We need the concurrence of the Government of India for inclusion of vaccines under the UIP. There are isolated cases of mumps, and we have witnessed a few outbreaks. It does not pose immediate danger, but may cause infertility. The situation is not alarming,” an official said.
In fact, the DPH analysed cases of mumps and published at least two articles in the Tamil Nadu Journal of Public Health and Medical Research in 2024. One article — Descriptive Analysis of Mumps Cases In Tamil Nadu, January – May 2024 (based on IHIP data) — said that from January 1 to May 20, 2024, 1,726 mumps cases were reported in Tamil Nadu and children aged 0-6 years had the highest attack rate, about nine times more likely to contract mumps than older individuals
“Young children are particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes from mumps, including meningitis, encephalitis, orchitis (inflammation of the testicles), oophoritis (inflammation of the ovaries), and pancreatitis. The absence of immunisation exacerbates these risks, leading to higher transmission rates and more severe health outcomes,” the authors said. The absence of the mumps component in the UIP left a significant gap in the prevention strategy, they added.
Similarly, another study — Epidemiology of reported mumps cases in Tamil Nadu, April 2021 to March 2024 — recommended making mumps a notifiable disease in Tamil Nadu and including the component to the UIP schedule as per GoI procedures.
According to the U-WIN portal, the first dose of MR vaccine should be administered between 9 and 12 months and the second dose between 16 and 24 months.
As per the IAP immunisation schedule, the first dose of MMR should be administered at nine months, second dose at 15 months, and the third dose at 4 to 6 years.
Published – August 07, 2026 10:09 pm IST
