Measles, declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, is rising again. The nation’s recent cases have many wondering whether they are safe from the highly infectious disease.
Nationwide, at least 35 measles cases have been reported by 15 states this year, according to the CDC.
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions.
Q: I’ve already been vaccinated. Do I need a booster?
A: Short answer: no. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers people who received two doses of the measles vaccine as children as protected for life, with up to a 97% rate of protection against infection. The 3 in 100 vaccinated people who do catch measles are more likely to have a mild illness, the CDC reports.
Unvaccinated people are thought to have a 90% chance of catching the virus if exposed.
Q: Who needs a vaccine?
A: The vaccine is recommended for everyone born after 1956 who has not previously had measles. Those who have had measles are considered immune.
The CDC generally recommends all children get two doses of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, at least 28 days apart, with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at ages 4 through 6.
The CDC and other major health organizations recommend that adults can and should get vaccinated with at least one dose if they haven’t had measles and haven’t been vaccinated yet, or aren’t sure.
Vaccine side effects are typically mild and pale in comparison to side effects of actually catching the virus. A small number of people may be unable to get the measles vaccine, such as those who have previously had a life-threatening allergic reaction to vaccine ingredients.
The measles vaccine is a live virus vaccine. which means that it shouldn’t be given to pregnant women, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises.
Q: Where can I get a vaccine?
A: MMR vaccines are likely available at your pediatrician or primary care doctor’s office as well as local pharmacies, including Walgreens, Publix and CVS, as well as community centers and the local health department.
Childhood vaccines like MMR are often available for free through initiatives like the federally funded Vaccines for Children Program.
Q: What are the symptoms of measles and what are the greatest dangers?
A: Symptoms show up one to two weeks after exposure. Common measles symptoms include a cough, a fever of at least 101 degrees, pink eye and a rash that begins within three to five days after symptoms begin.
Serious and sometimes fatal consequences can occur. Before the vaccine, it’s estimated that 3 million to 4 million people in the U.S. were infected each year, 48,000 were hospitalized, 400 to 500 died and 1,000 had encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can lead to permanent brain damage, according to the CDC.
Q: Should unvaccinated children stay home from school if an outbreak happens and for how long?
A: The CDC recommends unvaccinated children without a history of prior infection stay home from school for 21 days after their most recent exposure, the incubation period for measles.
But Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, the state’s top health official, sent a letter to Manatee Bay families on Feb. 20 reiterating the CDC’s recommendation but telling parents the decision to keep their children home was up to them, bucking typical protocol.
Ccatherman@orlandosentinel.com