SHOULD ADULTS GET A MEASLES BOOSTER?

 Our country is experiencing a relatively high incidence if measles now. This despite eradication of the virus from the USA not many years ago, in 2000.

Control of measles and other diseases that respond to vaccines depends on a large proportion  of the population getting that vaccine. Those few unvaccinated are not likely to encounter other unvaccinated people and so the virus is contained. Rates of vaccination against measles in the USA have been above the 90-something-percent that is required to achieve nearly universal protection.

Some groups of people are unvaccinated.

Infants do not receive their first dose until they are 12 months old. For a year they are susceptible to this highly contagious virus.

Some insular groups of people are unaware of the timing of vaccination for their children and so miss getting the protection.

Still other people are swayed away from vaccination by those who spread COM0LETELY UNFOUNDED claims that vaccination enhances - - or causes - - autism and other diseases.

How did the virus return to plague us?

Most likely travelers from other parts of the world such as Europe and the Middle East reintroduced the measles virus into the USA. Vaccination rates are much lower there than here - -  and incidence of measles is much higher.  The virus that they carry with them finds a robust population of victims. Unfortunately,  most of the victims are unwitting children.

Because of the unusually high incidence of measles in the USA today, it is reasonable for us seniors to ask whether we are immune. Whether they should get a booster.

An article in the New York Times addresses this question. You can read it if you will follow this link:Should adults get a measles booster?

Basically, the vast majority of adults in the USA are considered to be immune. The virus was considered to have been eradicated from the USA in 2000, and if we were not immune there would have been outbreaks before now.

Adults who are uncertain of their vaccination history and who work with unvaccinated groups, university students,  or are planning a trip abroad might consider getting a booster. Anybody born before 1957 is probably immune.

Avoid or put off vaccination if you are pregnant, have TB or any other condition that causes you to bleed (think blood thinners) or recently received a transfusion or blood products, have a compromised immune system, or have recently been vaccinated against another disease.

As always, if you are in doubt, check with your doctor.