����vlog

A major measles outbreak in Texas has expanded to include 146 people in the state, along with nine more cases in New Mexico. An unvaccinated child who contracted measles in Texas died last week. And this week, the new Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has started encouraging people to get the measles vaccine if they haven’t already.The measles vaccine – which is technically the measles, mumps, and rubella or MMR vaccine – is usually administered during childhood, and while it is considered incredibly effective at preventing the virus, immunity can still wane over time. So, do you need to be revaccinated for measles, or should you consider yourself protected if you got it as a kid? Below, infectious disease doctors break down the science and explain what you need to know. How does the measles vaccine work?The MMR vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, which means it contains a weakened form of the measles virus (as well as mumps and rubella viruses), explains William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The shot "trains" your immune system to be ready in case you're exposed to the real measles virus down the road."This vaccine cannot produce the real disease," Dr. Schaffner says. "All it does is persuade the immune system to create protection."The MMR vaccine is part of routine childhood vaccinations and is given in two doses. The first is usually given between 12 and 15 months; the second dose is given between ages four to six, or whenever kids start school, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If you didn't get the vaccine as a child, you can get the MMR vaccine when you're older – just be aware that doses need to be spaced out by 28 days, per the AAP.Video below: The first measles death has been reported and its victim identified as a school-aged childAre you protected for life if you were vaccinated in childhood?Yes, you're considered protected for life if you were vaccinated as a kid, with a few exceptions. People born between 1963 and 1967 received a measles vaccine during childhood that isn’t considered effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a result, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends getting the MMR vaccine if you fall into this group. It is possible for your body's levels of measles antibodies to fade over time, but that doesn't mean you're going to get measles, says Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. (Antibodies are proteins made by your immune system that recognize and help to neutralize a foreign invader, like a virus or bacteria.) "You also have memory cells that were created by the vaccine that activate and produce an immune response for protection," Dr. Russo said. So, if you happen to find that your immunity to measles has waned during a vulnerable time, like during pregnancy, don’t panic – it doesn’t mean you’re actually more susceptible to getting sick from the virus. Overall, one dose of the MMR vaccine is considered 93% effective against preventing measles, while two doses are 97% effective at preventing the virus, per the CDC. How do I know if I should get a booster?Technically, they're not considered boosters (it's just another dose of the vaccine), but most people do not need to get another measles shot, Dr. Russo says. However, there are a few exceptions. The CDC says that people who have "presumptive evidence of immunity" don't usually need an additional shot. That means you either have documented evidence that you received both doses of the MMR vaccine, you can confirm through a blood test that you have immunity to the virus, you had a confirmed case of the virus, or you were born before 1957 (when it was assumed that everyone was exposed to the virus). If that describes you, you're probably good. If not, it's a good idea to get at least one dose of the MMR vaccine, per the CDC.If you're going to be in a setting where you might be at high risk for measles exposure, you may need two doses, per the CDC. That includes if you're taking college or graduate classes, you work in healthcare, or are planning to do international travel to a place where measles is common. If you're not sure if you've had the MMR vaccine in the past, Dr. Schaffner says you’re fine to go ahead and get the shot. "Three shots won't harm you," he says. While some doctors may recommend testing your blood for antibody levels before getting jabbed, Dr. Schaffner says it's way less complicated and cheaper to just get another MMR vaccine dose. "If it ended up that you didn't need it, so what?" he says. How does getting another shot work?It's harder to find the MMR vaccine as an adult compared to something like the COVID-19 or flu vaccine. However, major pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens offer the vaccine. You just need to schedule an appointment in advance. If you prefer to get the MMR vaccine from your healthcare provider, Dr. Schaffner just recommends making it clear in advance that you want to get this particular vaccine. "Many internists who treat adults don't stock the MMR vaccine," he says. "Let them know that’s what you want so they can have it ready when you get there."If you're not vaccinated against measles or are under-vaccinated, Dr. Russo says it's important to be proactive and make sure you get the shots. "Preventing measles is all about vaccination," he says. "Outbreaks occur in the country every year because our measles vaccination rates are not high enough."