Life with Chronic Conditions: Do you need a measles vaccine?

It’s hard to miss the headlines about the current measles epidemic, where 704 cases have been confirmed, largely in children that were not vaccinated. This is an extremely contagious disease, where 90% of those who are unvaccinated and come in contact with an infected person will develop it. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes and can spread four days before and after symptoms appear.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  is recommending that adults understand their possible risks and consider re vaccination.

• No vaccination needed:  If you were born before 1957 it is assumed you’ve had the disease and therefore are immune to it. If you were born after 1989 and received two doses of the MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

• Who might need to be re vaccinated

-       If you received a vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) between 1963 and 1968-vaccine was considered in effective.

-       Those vaccinated between 1963 and 1989 would probably only have received one dose of the modern vaccine.

While it’s important to talk to your health provider about possible needs for re vaccination, it’s extremely important to know what your exposure risk might be if you are traveling internationally, work in a health care setting, living where outbreaks are occurring or if you are in college.

The vaccine has a prevention rate of 97%. If you are an adult who has never had a vaccination, you can get an MMR vaccine. If you are at high risk for exposure, they will recommend two doses.

You can be tested for evidence of immunity if you are unsure if you’ve been vaccinated or may have had measles. 

Talk to your medical provider as it’s better to be safe than sorry.