Tamil Nadu pushes for MMR vaccine in UIP to combat rising mumps cases

Tamil Nadu has once again urged the Union government to introduce the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), replacing the existing Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine. The State's latest appeal came in a memorandum submitted to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, seeking scientific consideration for the change.

The move follows reports of mumps cases across the State over the past few years. While health officials describe the situation as not "alarming", they note that mumps can lead to serious complications, particularly in young children.

In 2024, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine had written to the Union Health Ministry on the same issue. At that time, the request was prompted by outbreaks of mumps in various districts. Public health officials said that mumps vaccination is currently not part of the UIP, although the MMR vaccine is administered in private hospitals as per the immunisation schedule recommended by 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.

Data from the State's Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) shows that between January 1 and May 20, 2024, 1,726 mumps cases were reported in Tamil Nadu. A descriptive analysis published in the Tamil Nadu Journal of Public Health and Medical Research found that children aged 0-6 years had the highest attack rate, being about nine times more likely to contract mumps than older individuals.

The study authors highlighted that 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. They argued that the absence of immunisation exacerbates these risks, leading to higher transmission and more severe health outcomes.

The omission of the mumps component from the UIP leaves a significant gap in the prevention strategy, they added.

Another study, titled "Epidemiology of reported mumps cases in Tamil Nadu, April 2021 to March 2024," recommended that mumps be made a notifiable disease in the State and that the mumps component be added to the UIP schedule as per Government of India procedures.

Under the current UIP schedule, the MR vaccine is administered in two doses: the first between 9 and 12 months of age, and the second between 16 and 24 months, as per the U-WIN portal. In contrast, the IAP schedule for the MMR vaccine recommends the first dose at 9 months, the second at 15 months, and a third dose at 4 to 6 years.

The inclusion of mumps in the UIP would require a policy decision by the Government of India, which weighs scientific evidence, disease burden, and programmatic feasibility. Tamil Nadu's repeated request highlights the growing concern among public health experts about the need to broaden protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.

While the MR vaccine protects against measles and rubella, it does not protect against mumps. The addition of the mumps component would offer more comprehensive protection, particularly for young children who are most at risk.

The State's health department has been documenting mumps cases and publishing research to support its recommendation. Officials hope that the Union government will consider the request, keeping in mind the long-term health benefits of preventing mumps and its complications.

As of now, there has been no official response from the Union Health Ministry to the latest memorandum.