Measles Is Back!
By Jeanne Williams Bennett, RC 12 past president
People who were born between 1963 and 1968 received a measles vaccine during childhood that isn’t considered effective according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because of this, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends getting the MMR vaccine if you are in this group.
According to Dr. Ryan McCormick, adults born before 1955 likely acquired lifelong immunity through measles infection, which induces higher antibody levels. Dr. McCormick states that the CDC does not endorse routine adult boosters. The CDC advises that during an outbreak in your area, if you have an uncertain vaccination history, get one dose. For high-risk adults, serologic testing of antibody levels or the two dose vaccine (separated by at least 28 days) is recommended.
Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, recommends staying away from areas with outbreaks. Encourage your friends and others in your community to get vaccinated. Remember no such option exists for a child battling leukemia, an adult undergoing chemotherapy, those who are immunocompromised, or those who are at risk because of waning immunity. “We owe it to all of them to make sure we stamp out measles in the U.S. again.”
Ja, Dr. Ashish K. “Measles Is Back. And a Lot More People Are at Risk.” Time. March 10, 2025
McCormick, Dr. Ryan. ”Measles Vaccine Considerations During the Current Outbreak Examined. www. Substack.com. Feb. 27, 2025.
Miller, Korin. “Does the Measles Vaccine Become Less Protective With Age? How to Know If You Need to Be Revaccinated.” Women’s Health, March 6, 2025.
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