What does the MMR vaccination protect against?

The MMR vaccination is specifically designed to protect against three distinct viral infections: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. Each of these diseases can have serious health implications, particularly for young children.

Measles is known for its highly contagious nature and can lead to severe complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis. Mumps primarily causes swelling of the salivary glands and can also lead to complications involving the ears or even meningitis. Rubella, while often milder in children, poses a significant risk to pregnant women as it can cause serious birth defects if contracted during pregnancy.

The vaccine is pivotal in preventing the outbreaks of these diseases, contributing to community immunity and reducing the overall incidence of these potentially life-threatening conditions. In contrast, other options listed do not accurately reflect the diseases covered by the MMR vaccine, which is why those combinations do not provide the correct answer.