*All of PVMG’s recommendations are based on information published by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Measles is a highly contagious disease, however if you have had the recommended dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, it is about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.
The MMR vaccine is very safe and we recommend that all of our patients receive it.
Recommendations for Children:
All children should obtain two doses of the MMR vaccine; one between 12 and 15 months old and the other between 4 and 6 years. To see if your child has been vaccinated, check your child’s vaccination record. Still not sure? Contact us and we can check your child’s records.
Recommendations for Adults:
CDC considers you protected from measles if you have had one of the following:
- You received one or two doses of measles-containing vaccine (two doses were only given after 1988 or to high-risk patients)
- A laboratory confirmed that you had measles at some point in your life or that you are immune to measles
- You were born before 1957
If you’re not sure whether you are up to date on your measles vaccine, we recommend first checking your vaccine records. If you are unsure whether you received a measles vaccine, schedule an appointment to talk with your PVMG doctor.
Please note that, although very uncommon, people who received the killed measles vaccine (an earlier formulation of measles vaccine that is no longer used) between 1963 and 1968 need to be re-vaccinated with the current, live measles vaccine.
If you would like a laboratory test to help confirm that you had the measles at some point in your life or to confirm that you are immune to measles, please contact us to schedule an appointment or request an appointment via your patient portal.
If you are planning on international travel, the MMR vaccine recommendations change for both children and adults. For more information on the CDC’s travel recommendations, click here or make an appointment with PVMG’s travel clinic.
If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Stay healthy!
*Information last updated May 2019