Millennials May Not Be Immune from Measles

Americans born between 1981 and 1996 may need a second dose of the measles shot to be immune and resist outbreaks around the world. Here's what you should know.

When the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine became available in the United States in 1971, scientists recommended just one dose. But they noticed that some kids still got measles. Eighteen years later, the official recommendation became two doses, separated by at least a month.

Symptoms of measles generally begin one to two weeks after you are infected. The first symptoms are cold-like and include:

• Fever
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Muscle pains
• Red, watery eyes

Two or three days after symptoms begin, you may develop white spots inside your mouth. The primary symptom of measles, however, is the distinctive rash that appears three to five days after symptoms begin.

Earlier vaccines, for measles alone, appeared in the 1960s.

But if you were born before 1989, you may not know if you ever received the second dose. That includes millennials, the generation born between 1981 and 1996.

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Two doses of MMR vaccine provide 97 percent protection against measles. One dose provides 93 prevent protection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

Worry about that if you’re going abroad or have contact with American travelers returning from a foreign country. They can bring it home with them.

The United States got rid of measles by 2000 with a big push for vaccination. But the virus remains common in Europe, Asia, Africa, and parts of South America. In 2019, even several countries with high vaccination rates like Israel, Thailand, and Tunisia had pockets of outbreaks.

You can check here to see whether your destination has an outbreak. You really should be protected no matter where you are going, however. Measles can easily spread in airports, on public transportation, and at tourist attractions.

If you aren’t sure if you had two shots, you can get a blood test to see if you have antibodies to measles. If you do, you are very likely immune and protected. If you don’t, you may still be immune if you remember getting one shot — but you can’t be sure.

Your best move is to get a second one. There is a small risk that adults who get MMR may have mild joint pain, which you can treat with an over-the-counter remedy, one to three weeks later.

Avoid arguments that measles vaccines cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is no scientific explanation of why the vaccines would cause the illness and no observed link between the MMR vaccine and ASD in children. People against vaccines created the recent outbreaks in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.

It’s important to know that measles can be deadly. In 2021, more than 100,000 people died of measles, according to the World Health Organization. Even in wealthy countries, if you are hospitalized you may have complications with lasting effects, such as brain damage, blindness, and hearing loss.

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