<\/p>\n
Can a child get the MMR vaccine earlier than 12 months old?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The MMR vaccine can be given to children as young as 6 months of age. The CDC recommends children 6\u201311 months receive the MMR vaccine before traveling internationally, but it does not provide clear guidance for outbreaks in the U.S. An MMR vaccine given at 6\u201311 months is given in addition to the two recommended doses, not as a replacement dose.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you live in or will be traveling to an area in the U.S. where an outbreak is occurring, talk to your pediatrician about whether your young child should receive a dose of the MMR vaccine outside of the recommended schedule. This can also include children who have received their first recommended MMR dose but are not yet at the recommended age for their second dose. According to the CDC, it is possible to get a second dose earlier, as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose. Your health care provider can help you weigh any factors that could increase your child\u2019s risk of exposure to measles, including measles activity and vaccination levels in your local community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If the measles shot is so effective, why do I keep hearing about people getting sick from measles?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The problem is that not everyone is vaccinated. Because measles is so contagious, it relies on at least 95% of a community to be vaccinated. In the U.S., about 91% of U.S. children ages 19\u201335 months have been vaccinated. However, coverage in some communities is much lower, putting them at greatest risk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why have U.S. measles vaccination rates dropped in recent years?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are a number of compounding factors, one of which is actually how effectively we\u2019ve vaccinated against measles in the past. Strong immunization programs undermine themselves: When vaccination rates are high, the disease goes away. As a result, people aren\u2019t as concerned about it and don\u2019t see the necessity to vaccinate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Every parent wants to make the right decision for their child. Between the historically low rates of measles in the U.S. and the prevalence of mis- and disinformation about childhood vaccines, some parents underestimate the risk of measles and overestimate the risk of the vaccine.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Is the measles vaccine dangerous for my kids or me?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No, the MMR vaccine protects has been exhaustively studied and proven safe.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How long after vaccination does it take to build protection?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After receiving the MMR vaccine, your body takes time to create antibodies, which is what provides you protection if you are exposed to the virus in the future. As with most vaccines, it takes about two weeks to build up to full protection.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I got measles vaccinations as a kid. Am I covered for life?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most but not all people vaccinated against measles are protected for life, and the chance of being protected increases with a second dose of measles vaccine. Those who develop a protective response to measles vaccine are thought to be covered for life as there is no evidence this protection is lost with age.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Adults who were vaccinated for measles between 1963 and 1968 should check their vaccination history to determine which vaccine they received. During that time, a version of the vaccine that used an inactivated form of the virus was available that was found to not be as effective and was ultimately withdrawn. Only about 600,000\u2013900,000 people in the U.S. received that vaccine in the years it was available\u2014a very small percentage of the current population.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How do I know if I\u2019m protected against measles?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your best bet is to check your vaccination records. If you don\u2019t have access to your vaccination records and otherwise can\u2019t recall whether you were vaccinated, the easiest thing to do is to get another dose. It is not harmful to get an additional dose of measles vaccine, even if you\u2019ve been vaccinated previously or have natural immunity from prior infection.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Older adults who were born before 1957 are presumed to have naturally induced immunity, because they were likely exposed to measles before vaccines became available.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are also blood tests that can measure antibodies to the measles virus. These tests are helpful for people who are immunocompromised or have another condition that prevents them from receiving the MMR vaccine. These tests are also common for ensuring health care workers are protected, especially those working in children\u2019s wards or in areas with increased risk of measles exposure.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve heard it\u2019s better for children to get measles from another kid than to get a measles shot. Is that true?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No. Measles is a dangerous disease and the vaccine is very safe. The risks of severe illness, death, or lifelong complications from measles infection far outweigh the generally mild side effects some people experience following vaccination. Serious reactions to the MMR vaccine are rare.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Where can I get a measles shot?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can get measles vaccinations at doctors\u2019 offices, clinics, and government health centers. In communities where outbreaks are occurring, local health departments may also offer MMR vaccination clinics to help boost protection. Check with your local or state health department for more information.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How can I keep track of measles activity in my area?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The CDC website is a good resource for keeping track of national trends and outbreaks. State health departments, which report up to the CDC, are another great resource. In states where outbreaks are occurring, local and state health departments may provide more frequent updates to warn communities about outbreaks and recommend precautions or resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Where can I learn more about measles?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For more information, visit the CDC\u2019s pages on measles and vaccination. You can also learn about the virus and its impacts globally from the WHO\u2019s measles fact sheet.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Can a child get the MMR vaccine earlier than 12 months old?\u00a0 The MMR vaccine can be given to children as young as 6 months of age. The CDC recommends children 6\u201311 months receive the MMR vaccine before traveling internationally, but it does not provide clear guidance for outbreaks in the U.S. An MMR…
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