With measles outbreaks grabbing headlines lately, you may wonder if the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine you had when you were young can still protect you today.
The good news is that if you received the measles vaccine in the past, you probably don’t have to worry. Most people vaccinated against measles are protected for life.
Read on to learn more about what’s going on with measles right now and what you should know about this very contagious disease and immunity.
A Closer Look At Measles
Just 25 years ago, measles was considered officially eliminated from the United States. That meant there were no cases spreading within the United States and new cases only arose when someone contracted the disease when traveling outside the country.
Yet already this year, there have been three outbreaks — defined as three or more related cases. In one region of northwest Texas alone, the disease has infected roughly 200 people since late January.
Measles is spread through the air and is extremely infectious. It also causes severe illness, including an uncomfortable rash and high fever, and has no known cure. In fact, before the vaccine was introduced in the 1960s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that close to 50,000 people in the United States were hospitalized with measles each year and up to 500 people died from the disease.
Measles Immunization
Since the 1970s, the measles vaccine has been delivered as a combination shot with mumps and rubella — often referred to as the measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, vaccine. The CDC recommends two doses of the vaccine as the best way to protect yourself or your loved ones from these diseases.
Today, children may receive the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella, or MMRV, vaccine instead, which also protects against chickenpox. Most people who are fully vaccinated with either MMR or MMRV immunizations are protected for life.
Still, it is possible for people who are vaccinated to become infected with diseases like measles, which can happen during an outbreak.
Why Vaccinated People Are Getting Measles
Although the largest reported measles outbreak is in Texas, smaller ones are happening in other places around the country, too, including California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico and Rhode Island. The common link between most of the people infected right now is not being vaccinated — the only effective way to prevent measles.
In recent years, vaccination rates in the United States have been declining, giving measles the opportunity to resurge.
Some people who were vaccinated against measles but have been exposed to the virus may become infected. This could be for a few reasons. They may have an immune system that didn’t respond to the vaccine as well as it should have, or their immune system’s ability to fight infection may have decreased over time. They also may become infected due to prolonged, close contact with someone who has the virus.
Who May Need a Measles Booster
Currently, the CDC advises adults who were immunized against measles before 1968 to get at least one updated measles shot. This “booster” is for adults who may not recall whether they only received one measles shot before the two-dose regimen was introduced in 1989.
Although one dose of the MMR vaccine still gets you as much as 93% protection against measles, a second dose raises that to 97%, which can make a difference during an outbreak.
People who were born before 1957 typically don’t need to worry about getting a vaccine because they likely have immunity from a childhood spent exposed to the disease when it was still prevalent.
For children, the CDC advises continuing to follow the recommended two-dose regimen of either the MMR or MMRV vaccine — typically a first dose given between 12 months and 15 months old and a second one delivered between ages 4 and 6. If you’re in or traveling to an area with an active outbreak, ask your child’s pediatrician if they may be eligible for earlier vaccination.
Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
The measles vaccine is safe and effective. Find an AdventHealth physician near you to make sure you and the people who depend on you are up to date on recommended vaccines. Our primary care doctors are experts at providing compassionate care that helps you feel whole.
