By Abbie Cornett

In 2000, Measles was officially declared eradicated in the United States, meaning there was an absence of continuous transmission of the disease for more than 12 months. Flash forward to now, when more than 700 cases of measles have been confirmed and more than a thousand people have been quarantined. This makes 2019 the worst year for the disease since 1994. The majority of people (503, or 71 percent) who have contracted measles this year are not vaccinated against the disease. Another 11 percent have received one or more doses of measles-containing vaccine; however, two doses are needed for full immunity. The vaccination status of another 125 people is unknown. Those who were vaccinated and still acquired measles raises the question of when a person should receive a new dose.

With the number of measles cases skyrocketing, the question of whether one is immune to the disease is important. Many people are asking if they should be revaccinated, and the answer depends on many variables. Adults who were vaccinated decades ago may need a new dose depending on when they received their vaccination and their risk of exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who were vaccinated prior to 1968 with an early version of the vaccine, which was made from an inactivated (killed) virus, should be revaccinated with at least one dose of the live-attenuated measles vaccine. Some people who would have been vaccinated long ago may not know whether they indeed received the measles vaccine, and it can be difficult to find old immunization records. In this case, it would be prudent to receive one dose of the current vaccine.

Because of the risk of infection, CDC advises people living or traveling to areas where there is a current outbreak, healthcare workers and college students to check their vaccination records and consider getting a new dose.

If you have any doubts about your immunity against measles, discuss getting another dose with your physician.

References:

¹   Branswell, H. Measles Case Count in the U.S. Tops 700 This Year, as Health Officials Urge Vaccinations. Stat News Health, April 29, 2019. Accessed at www.statnews.com/2019/04/29/measles-case-count-in-the-u-s-tops-700-this-year-as-health-officials-urge-vaccinations.

²   Aubrey, A. Measles Shots Aren't Just for Kids: Many Adults Could Use A Booster Too. National Public Radio, April 29, 2019. www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/29/716894110/measles-shots-arent-just-for-kids-many-adults-could-use-a-booster-too.

³   Steenhuysen, J. U.S. Measles Outbreak Raises Questions About Immunity in Adults. Reuters, April 29, 2019. Accessed at www.yahoo.com/news/u-measles-outbreak-raises-questions-immunity-adults-144506034--finance.html?bcmt=1.