Adam’s Journal
Here’s a question from an Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation coworker:
I’m in my 60s, and the new measles outbreak in West Texas has me wondering: Does my childhood vaccine provide lifetime protection from the measles, or do I need a booster shot?
Dr. Scofield Prescribes
For most adults, there’s no need to get a measles booster. But for people who are older and have never been infected, it’s worth considering.
Until the 1960s, nearly all children contracted measles before age 15. The highly contagious illness killed 400-500 people per year and made nearly another 50,000 more sick enough to need hospitalization. And even for those not hospitalized, the experience was miserable: high fever, cough, conjunctivitis that often comes with light sensitivity, runny nose, plus a full-body rash.
A vaccine first became available in 1963, and it was replaced by a more effective version in 1968. That vaccine was later combined with others and is now offered as part of the two-dose MMR and MMRV series of shots.
For anyone who got vaccinated in 1968 or later, there’s no need to be re-vaccinated, as immunity lasts a lifetime. Ditto for anyone who actually contracted the measles.
However, for those who received a shot before 1968, unless they know for certain they contracted the illness, a booster is a good idea. The same is true for folks who got vaccinated around that time but can’t pin down the exact date.
If in doubt, there’s no harm to getting a booster. With dropping rates of vaccination among children, outbreaks like the one in Texas are going to become more common.
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Dr. Hal Scofield is a physician-scientist at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and he also serves as Associate Chief of Staff for Research at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. Adam Cohen is OMRF’s senior vice president and general counsel. Send your health questions to contact@omrf.org.
