What is Measles?

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and can cause health complications, especially in children younger than five years old.

Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It’s so contagious that unvaccinated individuals around an infected person have a 90% chance of catching measles. The disease also stays in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. This means an individual can catch measles simply by being in the room after the infected person leaves.

What are signs, symptoms and complications of measles?

Symptoms of Measles start to appear a week or two after coming into contact with the virus. A few days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth. A rash will develop a few days later and usually begins as flat red spots along the hairline on the face. The spots may then become raised bumps and will spread down to the neck and the rest of the body.

Other symptoms associated with measles:

Complications:

One in five unvaccinated individuals in the United States who catch measles are hospitalized.

When was the measles vaccine developed?

Distribution of the first United States vaccine began in 1963. Before this, it’s estimated 3 to 4 million people in the United States got measles each year, but only 500,000 were reported. Of the cases reported, between 400 and 500 people died each year and over 45,000 were hospitalized.

The vaccine strain was improved and updated in 1968, and this is the same strain that has been used in the United States ever since.

After several decades of a highly effective vaccination program, measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. This means the disease is no longer continuously transmitted in the country.

However, there are still isolated outbreaks of measles around the country, and measles is still common in many parts of the world.

Is the measles vaccine effective for my child?

The measles vaccine is very effective and helps train your child’s immune system to make protective antibodies that fight the disease if he/she comes in contact with measles.

The best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. This vaccine provides lasting protection against all strains of measles, as well as mumps, and rubella. Two doses are about 97% effective at protecting against measles. One dose is about 93% effective.

Stay on schedule!

For best protection, your child needs two doses of the MMR vaccine. Talk to your child’s doctor about the best strategy for vaccination.

  • First dose – 12 to 15 months old
  • Second dose – 4 to 6 years old

Protection for travel!

An unvaccinated child or adult can get measles when traveling internationally or by coming into contact with someone in the United States who is infected. If your family plans to travel outside of the country, the vaccine recommendations for your child are a little different.

  • If your child is 6 to 11 months old, they should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine before leaving.
  • If your child is 12 months or older, they will need 2 doses of MMR vaccine (at least 28 days apart) before leaving.

You can also choose to have your child protected with the MMRV vaccine. This vaccine protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) and is available to children between 12 months and 12 years old.

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