A growing measles outbreak in the US has sparked concerns about vaccine booster shots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported over 800 confirmed cases, with most unvaccinated individuals getting infected. However, experts say that two doses of the MMR vaccine are sufficient to protect against measles.
According to Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the MMR vaccine is safe and effective. Two doses provide 97% protection against measles. Public health experts recommend that most people be protected for life without additional booster shots.
The main factor determining whether an individual needs a third dose is genetic variability of the virus and the nature of their immunity. Measles viruses are more genetically stable, making a single dose sufficient to confer long-lasting protection. However, there is a small risk of decreased immunity with age.
To combat the outbreak, experts emphasize convincing unvaccinated individuals to get vaccinated rather than targeting those who have already received two doses. The CDC recommends that people vaccinated before 1968 should receive a booster shot due to differences in vaccine effectiveness between older and newer versions.
While getting a third dose of the MMR vaccine during an outbreak is unnecessary, maintaining high vaccination rates across the population remains crucial to preventing outbreaks.
Source: https://time.com/7278878/do-you-need-a-measles-vaccine-booster