MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Measles cases continue to pop up across the country, including a case in Shelby County and another in middle Tennessee. It has many people wondering if the measles vaccine they or family members got years ago is enough protection today. People in the Mid-South are now taking precautions after learning a case […]
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Measles cases continue to pop up across the country, including a case in Shelby County and another in middle Tennessee.
It has many people wondering if the measles vaccine they or family members got years ago is enough protection today.
People in the Mid-South are now taking precautions after learning a case of measles has been detected among hundreds of cases nationwide.
“We didn’t have measles before because more people were vaccinated,” Ike Burnett of Memphis said. “They need to get vaccinated now.”
As cases grow, people have a lot of questions.
How many measles vaccines do you need to get? The answer: two doses of the MMR vaccine, which stands for measles, mumps and rubella.
“The first dose is given to children between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and that second dose is typically given to kids between 4 to 6 years of age,” Dr. Shirin Mazumder, an infectious disease specialist with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare said.
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But what if you aren’t sure of your vaccine status? Dr. Mazumder says if you were born before 1957, you’re safe. “People that were born before this period likely have natural immunity to the measles because it was so widespread at that time,” she said.
However, if you were vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 you may need a booster. “There was a different type of measles vaccine that was being given at that time. It was an inactivated vaccine. It wasn’t as protective,” Dr. Mazumder said.
Dr. Steve Threlkeld, an infectious disease specialist with Baptist Memorial Healthcare, says a simple blood test available at most doctors offices can also confirm if you have measles antibodies.
“You can get it through your health care provider. It’s not the cheapest test, but insurance will pay for a lot of those situations,” he said.
If you still aren’t sure of your vaccine status and don’t have access to the blood test, Dr. Threlkeld said there’s no harm getting a measles booster to be safe unless you are immunocompromised.
Measles is very preventable with vaccination, which is the best way to protect yourself against the disease.
But like all vaccines, it’s not 100-percent foolproof.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97 percent effective at preventing measles if exposed to the virus.
One dose is about 93 percent effective.
While some vaccinated people may still contract measles, they usually experience milder symptoms and are less likely to spread the disease.
If you have gotten both doses, you’re considered to have protection for life.
“You can, in some rare situations, get it even after you’ve had the vaccine. But it is very, very uncommon,” Dr. Threlkeld said.
When it comes to symptoms, Dr. Threlkeld said don’t depend on the rash as your only signal.
He said symptoms often show up differently for people.
Many times, people get a fever, runny nose, sore throat and congestion before developing a rash a few days later.
The measles rash typically appears as red, flat or slightly raised spots that can merge into blotchy patches, often starting on the face and spreading downwards.
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