What experts need you to know about the MMR vaccine
What experts need you to know about the MMR vaccine
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Here is what to know about measles symptoms, spread and vaccine
Cases of the measles are on the rise. Here's what you should know about how measles are spread, its symptoms and the MMR vaccine.
As the U.S. continues to battle the largest spike in measles cases since 2019, experts underscore the importance of MMR vaccinations to prevent the spread of measles and bolster collective immunity.
Measles is a highly infectious, life-threatening viral disease that infects the respiratory tract. Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, it is estimated that 3 to 4 million people in the U.S. contracted measles every year, causing 500 deaths and 48,000 hospitalizations annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
The MMR vaccine, a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella, has been instrumental in curtailing the spread of measles. The vaccine has been available in its current form since 1971, marking more than 50 years of safe and effective use.
What is the MMR vaccine?
The MMR vaccine is an attenuated vaccine, meaning it uses particles of live viruses to help generate the body's immune response and build antibodies, says Dr. Matthew Harris, a pediatric emergency medicine physician and medical director of clinical preparedness for Northwell Health. 'Everyone is encouraged to get it, because as we've seen in Texas and New Mexico, measles spreads like wildfire,' says Harris.
The MMR vaccine is highly effective. Most vaccinated people will not develop measles, mumps or rubella when they are exposed to the diseases. But, in the case a vaccinated person does develop one of these diseases, their symptoms are typically milder, and they are far less contagious, per the CDC.
'So much for MAHA': RFK Jr. MMR vaccine support spurs backlash
Is the MMR vaccine safe?
The MMR vaccine is very safe, says Harris. For decades, the vaccine has been administered to millions of children, helping to prevent severe and life-threatening complications of measles, mumps and rubella. Serious side effects of the vaccine, including seizures, are rare.
Over the years, multiple large-scale studies have debunked claims linking the MMR vaccine and autism. Studies have also disproven connections between autism and vaccines containing thimerosal, a preservative often used in combination vaccines, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Heads up: A group of newborns were exposed to measles. Can babies be protected?
When should you receive the MMR vaccine?
The MMR vaccine is administered in two doses, usually during childhood. One dose provides 93% protection against measles, and two doses provide 97% protection, says Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at UCSF Health. When you receive two doses of MMR, you are considered to be fully immunized against measles.
Healthcare providers prioritize administering the MMR vaccine during early childhood for two primary reasons, Harris says. First, measles, mumps and rubella are highly infectious, and spread easily in congregant settings, such as daycares and summer camps. Second, children are particularly vulnerable to developing severe symptoms. Unvaccinated children under the age of 5 have an elevated risk of experiencing dangerous complications due to measles, including pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation), loss of sight or hearing and death, per the CDC.
It is recommended that babies receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine when they're between 12 and 15 months. The second MMR dose is usually administered when a child is 4 to 6 years old. In the case of a measles outbreak, or international travel, a baby can receive one dose of MMR when they are as young as six months old. They will still need to receive another two doses of the vaccine within the CDC-recommended time frames after they turn 1, says Chin-Hong.
If you weren't vaccinated against measles as a young child, you can still receive the MMR vaccine later in life, note Chin-Hong and Harris. Two doses of MMR will yield the same level of protection against measles, even if you've previously been exposed to the disease. It's important to note certain groups of people, including pregnant women and some immunocompromised individuals, aren't able to receive the MMR vaccine. This is the minority of patients, and a healthcare provider can help determine your eligibility for the vaccine.
If you're unsure whether you're protected against measles, check your vaccination records. It's possible some individuals may need to be revaccinated, although this isn't the case for most people. For example, if you find you were vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 and received the killed measles vaccine, the CDC recommends you receive at least one dose of a live attenuated measles vaccine.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gizmodo
16 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
RFK Jr. Purges CDC's Vital Vaccine Advisory Committee
On Monday afternoon, the head of HHS enacted a "clean sweep" of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is continuing his ideological purge of the federal government. The Health and Human Services Secretary just terminated all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—the outside experts who help steer the country's vaccine policies. Kennedy announced the firings late Monday afternoon in an editorial published by the Wall Street Journal. He argued that by 'retiring' the ACIP's current members, he would restore the public's trust in vaccines. However, RFK Jr. himself has long overexaggerated the dangers of vaccination, and experts worry that he will stock the ACIP with anti-vaccination proponents. 'Today's action to remove the 17 sitting members of ACIP undermines…trust and upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives,' said Bruce Scott, president of the American Medical Association, in a statement provided to Gizmodo. 'With an ongoing measles outbreak and routine child vaccination rates declining, this move will further fuel the spread of vaccine-preventable illnesses.' The ACIP is a panel of outside experts assembled by the CDC. Their recommendations, formally adopted by the CDC, greatly influence which vaccines are routinely provided to the public. States often mandate that children receive vaccines universally recommended by the ACIP, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, before they can enter public school, for instance. Insurance plans are also typically required to cover ACIP-recommended vaccines without any cost-sharing. For two decades, RFK Jr. has regularly misrepresented the evidence on vaccine safety and other important health issues. And it didn't take long for him to signal that he would undermine the country's vaccine policies. In his opening speech as the head of HHS in mid-February, Kennedy stated that he would form a commission to investigate the childhood vaccine schedule as a potential culprit of chronic disease (no strong evidence supports a connection between the vaccine schedule and a population-level rise in chronic illness). Kennedy has previously argued that the ACIP's current and former members were rife with conflicts of interest, such as having received money from vaccine manufacturers. During the Senate committee hearings this January, for instance, he claimed that 97% of ACIP members had these conflicts—an unsurprisingly misleading claim. Kennedy was wrongly citing a 2009 report that found 97% of financial disclosure forms from people on advisory committees in 2007 had at least one error or omission, such as missing dates. Kennedy's latest WSJ editorial correctly describes the 97% statistic, though he still appears to imply these omissions are largely undeclared financial conflicts (the 2009 report found that 15% of members did not comply with ethics requirements during their committee stints). Aside from eliding the truth about the ACIP's ethical standards, Kennedy seems to have outright broken his promise to Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) that he would 'maintain' the ACIP without changes—a promise that secured Cassidy's pivotal tiebreaker vote in early February to further his nomination through the Senate. On a X post late Monday, Cassidy acknowledged many people's fears that the ACIP will now 'be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion.' But Cassidy didn't acknowledge the broken promise, only stating that he would continue talking with Kennedy to 'ensure that this is not the case.' Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion. I've just spoken with Secretary Kennedy, and I'll continue to talk with him to ensure this is not the — U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) June 9, 2025 Of course, there's little reason to believe that RFK Jr's antivax agenda will be meaningfully constrained by anyone in the government. He's already enacted a renewed investigation into the debunked link between vaccines and autism—an investigation that will be led by notorious vaccine skeptic David Geier. Kennedy and the Trump administration have also impeded the development of newer, possibly more effective vaccines for both flu and covid-19, and are attempting to place testing roadblocks that will make future vaccine approvals harder to secure.
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
HHS justifies decision to stop recommending Covid shots during pregnancy with studies supporting the shots' safety
The Department of Health and Human Services is circulating a document on Capitol Hill to explain its decision to remove the Covid-19 vaccine recommendation for pregnant women — citing studies that largely found the shot is safe. The document, which HHS sent to lawmakers days before Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his plan to fire the panel that advises the CDC on immunizations, says that studies have shown that women who got the vaccine during pregnancy had higher rates of various complications. And it claims that 'a number of studies in pregnant women showed higher rates of fetal loss if vaccination was received before 20 weeks of pregnancy,' footnoting a research paper on vaccination during pregnancy. But Dr. Maria P. Velez of McGill University, the lead author of one of the studies, told POLITICO in an email that 'the results of our manuscript were misinterpreted.' The 2023 study shows a slightly higher rate of miscarriages among women who were immunized against Covid-19 during their pregnancies. But, Velez said, that after adjusting for 'variables that can confound a crude association,' like 'age, rurality, neighbourhood income quintile, immigration status, comorbidity' and other factors that could affect the outcome, Canadian researchers found 'no association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and an increased risk of miscarriage.' Raw numbers don't account for significant differences among the groups being compared — such as underlying conditions and when during pregnancy the people were vaccinated, said Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist who's consulted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Scientists, including the Canadian researchers, use statistical methods to adjust for those factors, she said, which is how they determined the vaccine wasn't associated with miscarriage. In a statement, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon pointed to the raw study data, which showed a slightly higher rate of miscarriage in the first half of pregnancy for women who were vaccinated against Covid compared with those who weren't. 'The underlying data speaks for itself — and it raises legitimate safety concerns,' he said. 'HHS will not ignore that evidence or downplay early pregnancy loss.' Nixon added that HHS and the CDC encourage people to talk to their providers 'about any personal medical decision.' Vaccine researchers and obstetricians criticized the decision to remove the recommendation for pregnant women, and researchers cited in the HHS document largely dismissed any connection between Covid vaccination and miscarriages. 'Given that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is associated with serious maternal and neonatal morbidity, the current study can inform healthcare providers, pregnant women and those considering a pregnancy about the safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in relation to miscarriage risk,' Velez and her co-authors wrote in the study. That research was based on health-system data from Ontario, Canada, and aligned with similar population studies in the U.S., Scotland and Norway. Similarly, HHS cited an April 2022 study in its document concerning mRNA vaccination in people undergoing in-vitro fertilization, which also found no adverse effects on conception rates or on early pregnancy outcomes. 'Administration of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines was not associated with an adverse effect on stimulation or early pregnancy outcomes after IVF,' the New York City-based researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai West hospital wrote in the study. 'Our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in women who are trying to conceive.' The HHS document also includes an incorrect link for that study, instead leading to a different study — also cited in HHS' document — by Israeli researchers that found the vaccine 'appears to be safe during pregnancy,' with no increase in preterm labor or in newborns with low birth weight. That February 2022 study did note a possible increase in preterm birth rates for women vaccinated during the second trimester, and the authors suggested future investigations of outcomes based on the timing of immunization. HHS' assertion about significant risks to pregnant women 'contradicts the bulk of published studies,' said Dr. Paul Offit, an expert who has served as an outside adviser on vaccines to the FDA and the CDC. HHS deviated from past practice when it changed the Covid vaccine guidance last month, announcing the decision without the endorsement of an existing outside panel of expert advisers. Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told POLITICO at the time that he was disappointed by HHS' decision, and pointed to data showing that newborns can benefit from maternal antibodies from the vaccine for protection from Covid. 'In fact, growing evidence shows just how much vaccination during pregnancy protects the infant after birth, with the vast majority of hospitalized infants less than 6 months of age — those who are not yet eligible for vaccination — born to unvaccinated mothers,' Fleischman said.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Doctors warn about ‘very real risks' of Ozempic ‘golden dosing' trend: ‘Recipes for disaster'
GLP-1 users might be jabbing for weight loss, but many are trying to combat cash loss by squeezing an extra dose out of their medication. The trend, dubbed 'golden dosing,' has been hyped by social media users as a way to get more bang for your buck. But doctors are warning it could be dangerous — and even set back your weight loss goals. 'Using a medication outside of its prescribed method is always risky — and in this case, especially unnecessary,' Dr. Michael Snyder, medical director of Bariatric Surgery at Rose Medical Center and an in-house expert at FuturHealth, told The Post. Advertisement 4 Surveys show that roughly 1 in 8 US adults have tried GLP-1 drugs. millaf – What is golden dosing? GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy come in injectable pens that contain four doses, with each device lasting about a month. But some users have noticed that their pens often have leftover liquid after their final jab. This extra medication isn't a mistake. It's designed to allow for an initial flow check and to ensure that each of the four doses is accurate and complete. Advertisement Nevertheless, some TikTok users are extracting this leftover liquid with syringes and needles, using it as a fifth and final 'golden dose.' With out of pockets costs for these drugs sometimes topping $1,000 a pen, pulling out the extra medication has become a way to cut back a bit on exorbitant costs. But experts say the trend raises some major red flags. 'The 'golden dose' is more of a cost-saving strategy than one focused on safety and effectiveness,' Dr. Shiara Melissa Ortiz-Pujols, a bariatric surgeon at Northwell Health, told The Post. Advertisement 4 Typically, GLP-1 pens contain four doses. Fernanda – A dose of confusion GLP-1 pens deliver pre-measured doses that are carefully prescribed by healthcare providers based on factors like weight and health status. 'Any deviation — even what might seem like a 'small' one — can disrupt how your body responds,' Snyder warned. Advertisement GLP-1s are typically titrated, meaning the dosage is gradually increased over time to help the body adjust to the drug. 'As we increase the dose, we expect greater effectiveness, but we also face a higher risk of severe side effects,' Ortiz-Pujols explained. 4 Taking too much of the medication can lead to painful gastrointestinal effects. – Increasing your dose too quickly or taking inconsistent amounts week to week can worsen side effects, she said. It could also complicate your treatment plan, making it difficult for doctors to accurately track how your body is responding to the medications and make informed adjustments based on your personal needs, Snyder cautioned. From hack to hazard Attempting to recover leftover medication using a syringe also carries 'very real risks' for your health, Snyder said. Even minor miscalculations can lead to overdoses, triggering symptoms like nausea, vomiting and even pancreatitis. Advertisement 4 There's a major risk for bacterial growth if the syringe isn't completely sterile. Jo Panuwat D – On the flip side, underdosing can blunt the drug's effectiveness, resulting in weight regain and glucose instability. 'To put it simply, how comfortable would you feel using what you think is the 'right amount' of a blood pressure medication, a blood thinner, or a narcotic?' Snyder posed. 'All of those could be recipes for disaster. This situation is no different.' A hidden danger Advertisement The trend also poses a serious risk of infection. 'GLP-1 pens are designed to be used as a sealed system,' Snyder said. 'Using an external syringe breaks sterility, exposing the medication to bacteria during handling — even from clean-looking surfaces or hands.' This can lead to local infections at the injection site or even systemic infections, Snyder noted, emphasizing that the risk is particularly high for those who reuse syringes or directly touch the drug solution. 'There's no reliable way to make this DIY method safe,' Snyder said. 'That's why these pens are single-use and designed for highly controlled administration.'
