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The combined MMR vaccine protects children and adults against measles, mumps, and rubella all together. Before the vaccine was developed, these highly contagious diseases were prevalent, and virtually all children became infected at some point. In the 1960s, vaccines were developed for each disease individually, and in 1971, the separate vaccines were combined into the MMR vaccine. In 1993, doctors began recommending a booster shot to increase children's protection against the diseases. In 2005, a version known as MMRV was made available that combined the standard MMR vaccine with the vaccine for chickenpox, or varicella.