Effectiveness of Older Measles Vaccines: Do They Still Provide Protection?

04/30/2025

Measles is recognized as a highly contagious disease.

The initial symptoms one comes across after getting infected with measles are runny nose, fever, cough, and conjunctivitis. However, the aforementioned symptoms usually surface 7 to 14 days after infection. You may witness a red measles rash three to five days after symptoms begin. These red measles usually start on the face and gradually spread to the entire body.

If left untreated or unattended, it may also lead to further life-threatening complications, including deafness, pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. Certain people pose a high risk of encountering severe cases, such as children aged below 5 years, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant ladies. 

This infection possesses the potential to weaken your immune system and expand your risk of developing an array of infections from other bacteria and viruses. Several studies confirm that it can also lead to keratitis, which may, as a result, cause blindness.   

If you get through this infection successfully, you are still prone to developing a condition known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. It comes as an incurable degenerative nervous system and brain disorder, which may induce the following symptoms: depression, dementia, and uncontrolled movements.

The intensity of the infection:

This condition, measles, is contagious more than you think, even catching it easier than other deadly infections such as COVID-19 and flu. The basic reproductive number for measles ranges between 12 and 18, which means that a person infected with measles can easily infect around 12 to 18 people who have no immunity against it. You can easily transmit this virus to other individuals from four days after to four days before the measles rash surfaces. Whenever an infected individual sneezes or coughs, it increases the chances of other people developing it as soon as they breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface. 

It is believed that this virus can easily dwell on a surface or in the air for about 2 hours.

Your chances of developing it increase if you stand in line with one of the following: 

• Living in an area where the vaccination rate is too low

• Traveling to a place where an outbreak is happening

• Places where people are highly susceptible to it

The vaccine available for this condition is considered highly effective and holds the potential to eradicate such a contagious and life-endangering health condition.

The measles vaccine is safe and effective. 

The vaccine available for measles is the MMR vaccine. In addition to providing a shield against measles, it is also effective against the following: mumps and rubella. Mumps is defined by painful swelling in the salivary glands, leading to symptoms such as puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw. On the other hand, rubella is a condition, also referred to as German measles, and it leads to symptoms such as mild rash and fever. However, if a pregnant woman gets infected with it, it can even lead to congenital disabilities in an unborn baby.

Most people get the MMR vaccine during their childhood only. It is given by the healthcare provider in two shots, wherein the first shot is given between 12 to 15 months of age, and another shot is given between the ages of 4 and 6. As a result, it provides a lifelong shield against the aforementioned conditions. MMR is seen as the live vaccine, which means it has a small, weakened dose of the same virus. It functions to develop a healthy immune system to fight against measles, rubella, and mumps viruses if any of them try to attack the body. As a result, it inhibits the infection from developing.

Effectiveness of MMR vaccine: 

At present, no vaccine available on the market is seen as 100% effective against measles. However, two MMR shots are recognized as 97% effective against it. Two shots of this vaccine are 88% effective against mumps, and a single is seen as 97% effective for rubella.. After getting vaccinated, your chances of developing it are way too low, and only a small percentage of vaccinated people will re-develop this condition.

This vaccine is also safe as it doesn’t lead to any serious side effects. If side effects occur, you will primarily notice soreness at the vaccination site, pain, fever, and stiffness in the joints. In addition, a few people may also encounter mild rash within three weeks after getting a vaccination. However, it is not a cause for concern.

Most vaccinated people don’t require a booster. However, check your vaccination status to be sure.

It takes nothing to be prepared against serious illnesses. Therefore, it is important to keep yourself up to date with the latest vaccinations and treatments to be on the safer side. The good part is that most people have immunity against this deadly virus either through vaccination or last infection. It is believed that two immunization vaccinations are more than enough to provide full protection against it for life, and no additional vaccines are needed.

If you are 6 months or older than that, you must be vaccinated against it, especially if you live in an area where the outbreak occurs. Also, if traveling internationally, you should be fully vaccinated regardless of where you are traveling.

Do you need the MMR vaccine again?

If you were immunized between 1937 and 1963, you are also at risk of developing it. During this period, certain people got inactive or killed vaccines that were less effective than live vaccines. Suppose you know that you received an inactive vaccine, not a live one. In that case, you should have at least one dose of 1 live vaccine to mitigate your risk of breakthrough. If you are not able to decide how many shots you need, you may consult your healthcare provider.

Ways to verify your vaccination status: 

In order to verify your vaccination status, there are a few ways that you can opt for. The first is records on paper, and the second is through the database. If you don’t have your previous records, you can check them through the Immunization Information System of your state if they have one. 

Another option is getting an MMR immunity blood test done that will help you find whether your body has antibodies against measles or not. If you wish to get one, please check with your doctor to know your eligibility. As it is a live vaccine, some people may not be apt for it.

There are certain people who may not be eligible for this vaccine, such as people with weakened immune systems, people who have undergone organ transplants, and people who are getting certain medications.

If you feel you have been exposed to someone who has or has had measles, get in touch with your doctor immediately. They will help you to find ways to get through it easily. If you feel you have been infected and the case is mild to moderate, try to stay home and avoid socializing so that the virus doesn’t spread.

There is no specific antiviral therapy available to tackle measles. However, certain practices can help alleviate symptoms.

The takeaway:

The measles virus is dangerous and spreads very speedily through contaminated surfaces and air. Once infected, it may induce a wide range of complications for you and your loved ones. If left unattended, you may even encounter death. Therefore, it raises the significance of getting in touch with a doctor upon encountering its symptoms. Your chances of re-developing it are very low if vaccinated. The MMR vaccine shields you against it for your whole life. If it re-develops, the symptoms would remain very minimal. If you haven’t received one so far, get it as soon as possible to reduce your overall risk of developing it.

FAQs

1. Does the measles vaccine lose effectiveness over time?

The measles vaccine is believed to provide lifelong protection against the deadly infection of measles. However, some research has noticed a slight decrease in the effectiveness of the vaccine over the years. Once you have received the vaccination, you remain protected against it for a lifetime. However, certain people may come across waning immunity, especially if they belong to areas where measles has been eliminated completely, which raises the importance of booster doses.

2. Is my childhood measles vaccine still good?

The measles vaccine you receive in childhood is considered effective throughout life. If you have two doses of it in childhood, you have an immunity against it for a lifetime and don’t require any additional dosage such as a booster. If you are unsure about your vaccination status, please consult your doctor.

3. Does the measles vaccine provide lifetime immunity?

The measles vaccine is generally believed to offer lifelong immunity.  Two shots of it are seen as 97% effective against measles, resulting in lifelong protection against it.

4. Do adults need a measles booster?

Only certain people may require a measles booster dose, especially those who are at high risk of encountering it, such as college students, international travelers, and healthcare workers. Hence, not all adults need to get a booster. If you are not sure about your vaccination history or received one with lower effectiveness, you should consult your doctor.