Do Adults Need a Measles Booster Shot?

Given the growing number of outbreaks and the highly contagious nature of the measles virus, you may be asking yourself: Do I need a measles booster shot if I was vaccinated as a child?

But there are exceptions. “Most people who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine do not need a measles booster, but some specific individuals may benefit,” says Deborah Fuller, PhD, a professor of microbiology and a vaccine researcher at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.

Fuller says it’s vital to know your vaccination status and health history, which can determine whether you are vulnerable to measles and should seek out a booster.

Public health authorities recommend consulting your healthcare provider to see if you are among those for whom a booster or revaccination is advisable.

You might need a booster if you:

Had Just 1 MMR Dose

Public health officials underscore that for certain people it is especially important to get a second MMR dose if they haven’t had it already.

• Healthcare workers
• Students at post–high school educational institutions like colleges
• International travelers
• Adults living with HIV who are not severely immunocompromised
• Adults who are household contacts or other close contacts of people with compromised immune systems
• Groups at increased risk because of an outbreak

Were Vaccinated Between 1963 and 1967

A small percentage of people who received the MMR vaccine during these years received either an “inactivated” (killed) measles vaccine or a measles vaccine of unknown type.

The inactivated measles vaccine was discontinued in 1967 because it didn’t provide sufficient long-term protection.

Were Vaccinated Between 1968 and 1989

“There may be some gap in immunity, as during that time only one [MMR] dose was recommended,” says Catherine Troisi, PhD, a professor of management policy and community health at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.

Are Unsure of Your Vaccination Status

Saahir Khan, MD, PhD, an infectious-disease specialist with Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, advises getting a two-dose series of MMR vaccine if you are unsure of your vaccine status. “There is no increased risk from additional doses,” says Dr. Khan.

An MMR vaccine or booster may not be safe for some, including:

• Anyone who’s had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or a vaccine component
• People who have severe immunodeficiency (including some HIV patients and certain cancer patients)
• People who are pregnant
• Most babies younger than 6 months of age

“An unimmunized person exposed to measles has a 90 percent chance of getting sick, but an immunized person after two doses of MMR vaccine has a 97 percent chance of being protected,” says Patsy Stinchfield, a pediatric nurse practitioner and a past president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.