- Amid the measles outbreak expected to âexpand rapidly,â people are confused about whether they need a booster
- Anyone who has had two shots of the MMR vaccine, which protects against the virus, is considered âimmune for life,â an expert tells PEOPLE
- If youâre not sure of your vaccination status, consult with your doctor to discuss next steps
The measles outbreak in the Southwest continues to spread, and âmore cases are expected,â U.S. Centers for Disease Control said, as âthis outbreak continues to expand rapidly.â Cases have now been documented across the U.S., in nearby Oklahoma, as well as New York, New Jersey and Alaska.Â
The outbreak has resulted in the deaths of three people, including a child who was not vaccinated according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Compared to 2024 when there were 285 cases total, the CDC said there are already 301 confirmed cases in the first three months of 2025.
According to the CDC, the best safeguard against measles is âtwo doses of the MMR vaccineâ â which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. The first dose is administered between 12 and 15 months of age; the second shot comes between 4 and 6 years. However, some adults may not remember getting the shots â or if they were born before 1957, traditional guidelines considered them immune. Measles was so widespread before the vaccineâs introduction in 1963, medical professionals assume most people were exposed to it, resulting in some immunity.
To address confusion surrounding whether people need further protection, PEOPLE spoke to Dr. Matthew Harris, pediatric emergency medicine physician and medical director for clinical preparedness for Northwell Health in New York.
Do I Need a Measles Booster?
âIf youâve been able to see from your childhood vaccinations that youâve received two doses of the vaccine,â Dr. Harris tells PEOPLE, âyouâre considered immune for life and there is no reason to get a booster.â
What If I Donât Know My Immunization Status from Childhood?
âIf you donât know your status, I think itâs a worthwhile conversation to have with your practitioner,â Dr. Harris says, especially âif you came from somewhere that wasnât a highly vaccinated population.â If your doctor advises it, âyou can restart the series of the measles vaccine,â he says.
Is There a Way to Test for Antibodies?
Yes. If you are unsure whether youâve had the two doses of the vaccine, a blood test can show whether you have titers, or antibodies. There is a measles-specific antibody.
âIf you have the titer called IgG,â Dr. Harris explains, âthen you can rest assured that you know you are protected against measles.â
Sometimes IgC may not show up in a fully vaccinated person, due to how long ago they were vaccinated, individual immune response or other reasons. âIf someoneâs fully vaccinated, even if you do not have high levels of titers, [youâll have] another form of immunity called cellular immunity, which is just not something you can detect in a blood test.â
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You donât need a titers test if you know you have been fully vaccinated, but it could be an option for someone who is not sure, so check with your doctor.
Can Anyone Get Vaccinated?
âFor the most part, almost everyone can get vaccinated,â Dr. Harris adds. Few exceptions include pregnant people, patients undergoing chemotherapy or âpatients who have certain immunologic diseases that might prohibit them from getting vaccinated.â
People Who Are at High Risk of Bad Outcomes â Like Those with Leukemia or HIV â May Be Worried About Exposure. What Should They Do?
âIf you were born after 1957 and you think your parents gave you your shots as a child and youâre a healthy person, you do not need to rush off to get a booster,â Dr. Harris tells PEOPLE. âThe likelihood is youâre vaccinated and protected.â But, he adds, âIf youâre not sure, discuss it with your provider and if youâre a higher-risk patient, again you can consider getting titers [checked] as part of the discussion, but recognize that that information is imperfect.â
What Should I Do If My Child Is Too Young to Be Vaccinated?
âUnderstanding the vaccine practices at your daycare or in your community would be important, especially given the prevalence of cases,â Dr. Harris says. âI think parents have the information available to them to make an informed decision about how to keep their children safe. I want to be clear: Iâm not recommending anyone staying home from daycare or school. Itâs just that parents make informed decisions.â
Will There Be a Vaccine Shortage?
âThere is a national shortage of the vaccine right now, but thatâs not because of the measles; that has to do with one of the companies having a production problem,â Harris tells PEOPLE. âThatâs another reason not to get an âunnecessaryâ booster because if you are considered immune, you donât need that booster, that should be reserved for children [who have] not yet been vaccinated.â
And while he says, âyou will see some public health effortsâ to vaccinate,â they will be ânothing akin to what we saw with COVID.â
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