Should You Get a Measles Booster Shot? Here ’s What Experts Say

Unvaccinated individuals have been the focus of attention during this year’s measles outbreaks. A record 704 cases of the illness have been confirmed in 22 states so far in 2019, and the CDC says the majority of those diagnoses have been in unvaccinated people. Health officials have repeatedly warned nearly everyone to get the shot if they haven’t already — sometimes threatening fines for those who refuse. “Over 90% of the measles cases that have occurred in the U.S. have occurred in unvaccinated persons,” says Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “The emphasis needs to be on getting as many unvaccinated people vaccinated as possible.” But are those who have already been vaccinated safe, or might they need extra protection? Here’s what to know about measles booster shots. How effective is the measles vaccine? Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children get two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, unless they have specific allergies or prohibitive medical conditions. The first dose should be administered between 12 and 15 months, the CDC says, while the second should be given to kids ages four through six. But until 1989, the CDC only recommended that children get one dose of the vaccine. Two doses of the shot are about 97% effective at preventing the measles, while one dose...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized public health Source Type: news