How to find out if you got your measles vaccines
Measles is spreading across the U.S. once again, with confirmed cases surpassing 300 for the first time since 2019, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.
More: Measles is getting closer to Ohio. Here's what you can do to protect you and yours
While Ohio has not yet reported any measles cases in 2025, the disease has reached neighboring states such as Kentucky, Michigan and Pennsylvania. In Kentucky, one measles case was reported in Franklin County, and health officials warned people who visited a Planet Fitness in Frankfort of possible exposure.
Anyone might be wondering, when was I immunized? Am I safe?
Those heading South for spring break may be particularly concerned, considering the measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico.
Here's what you need to know.
Most adults in the U.S. have been vaccinated against measles, according to the CDC, but it's important to verify.
Daniel Salmon, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and expert in the epidemiology of measles outbreaks, said everyone should locate their immunization records, and parents should make sure their children got the recommended two doses of the measles vaccine.
"We have a lot of susceptible kids out there," Salmon said. "Measles is really infectious."
If you're not sure where to start, here's a list of people and organizations you can reach out to:
Ask your parents or other caregivers if they've kept records of your immunizations from childhood.
Contact your high school or college, which likely required certain immunizations, to see if they kept records that you provided them. Remember that they likely won't keep your records more than one to two years after you graduate.
Check with previous employers.
Your doctor or public health clinic may have vaccination records for a limited number of years.
While there is no national registry for vaccine history, you can check with your state's department of health.
Both Ohio and Kentucky maintain statewide immunization registries, so you can request vaccine records directly or through your doctor, who may be able to access the system.
For Ohio, click here for instructions for requesting vaccine records and for Kentucky, click here. Keep in mind that in Ohio, medical providers are not required to report non-COVID-19 related immunization records to the state, so it is possible that they may not have a complete list of your vaccinations.
Finally, Salmon said, "If you can't find your vaccine record, I would talk to your doctor."
Depending on your medical history and the vaccination rates in the area where you live, your doctor may recommend that you get the vaccine, even if you might have been immunized as an infant.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads through coughing and sneezing.
It can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis, for children under 5 years old.
The two-dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is highly effective, reducing your chance of getting the disease by 97%, but 95% of people in a community need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity, according to Salmon.
"When you have these pockets of low vaccine coverage," Salmon said, "that's where you see outbreaks."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Measles vaccine: How to figure out if you got one
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