What does the MMR vaccine protect against?

The MMR vaccine is designed specifically to protect against three serious viral infections: measles, mumps, and rubella. Each of these diseases poses significant health risks.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. Mumps can lead to painful swelling of the salivary glands and potential complications such as orchitis and meningitis. Rubella, also known as German measles, can cause serious birth defects if a woman contracts the virus during pregnancy.

By receiving the MMR vaccine, individuals are not only protecting themselves but also contributing to community immunity, which helps protect those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons. Vaccination against these diseases has been shown to greatly reduce the incidence of each condition, highlighting the importance of this immunization in public health.

The other options presented do not accurately reflect the specific diseases that the MMR vaccine targets. Influenza and tuberculosis, along with various respiratory infections and stomach viruses, are addressed by different vaccines or preventive measures but are not covered by the MMR vaccine.