FAQ: Measles

As long as you are vaccinated, you are almost certainly fine. The measles vaccine is incredibly effective. Nearly all adults in the United States have been vaccinated, and Massachusetts requires all students to be immunized for measles as well.  

Maybe. It depends on when you were born and if you were already immunized.

Born before 1957:
No. You were most certainly already exposed to measles

Born/vaccinated between 1957–1967:
Yes. Unless you got at least one measles booster in 1968 or later, you should get a measles booster now. That’s because it is very possible that you were vaccinated with inactivated (killed) measles vaccine, which was in use from 1963–1967 and later shown to be ineffective. There is no harm in getting a booster if you were vaccinated in the 1960s and are not sure if you received an additional vaccination after 1967.

Vaccinated between 1968–1989:
Probably not. You received a vaccine that has been proven effective. If you received one dose of vaccine, you are protected at about a 93 percent level. Two immunizations protect at about a 97 percent level. If you aren’t sure how many doses you received or are worried about your immunity, speak with your primary care provider.

Vaccinated after 1989
No. If you received two doses, as has been the standard since 1989, you are considered immunized.

Contact your primary care provider. You can also get the measles vaccine at large pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.

No, but you should take some precautions. Your child should avoid areas with known outbreaks. If you have questions, speak with your child’s health care provider.

It’s best if you can avoid international travel or travel to a location with a known outbreak until your child can be immunized. Speak with your child’s health care provider to find out when they are scheduled to receive a measles vaccine. Most children receive their first measles vaccine (most commonly, an MMR vaccine, which also includes immunization against mumps and rubella) on or shortly after their first birthday.

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants who are traveling internationally or to a location with a known outbreak of measles and are “aged 6 through 11 months should receive one dose of MMR vaccine before departure, ideally at least two weeks prior to travel.” However, the group also notes that “doses received prior to the first birthday do not count toward the recommended two-dose series.”