Measles Virus FAQ

Immunity & Exposure

• Am I protected against measles?

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers a person to be immune (not at risk) if they meet one of the following criteria:

  • Written documentation of adequate vaccination: one or more doses of a measles-containing vaccine administered on or after the first birthday for preschool-age children and adults not at high risk
  • Two doses of measles-containing vaccine for school-age children and adults at high risk, including college students, health care personnel, and international travelers
  • Laboratory evidence (titers) of immunity
  • Laboratory confirmation of measles
  • Birth before 1957

  If you are unsure whether you are vaccinated or have protective titers and are a UTHealth employee or resident who provided documentation at the time of employment, please call Employee Health at 713-500-3267. The providers can check your records.

  Students may contact UTHealth Student Health and Counseling Services at 713-500-5171.

  UTP/Insperity Employees, please contact Betty Croffie, LVN, Employee Health, at 713-486-3172 or email Croffie at FluVac@uth.tmc.edu if you have any questions.

  All others should contact their health care provider to check immunization status.

• Who should I call to see if I'm immune?

  If you are unsure whether you are vaccinated or have protective titers, please call your health care provider.

  If you are a UTHeath employee or resident who provided documentation at the time of employment, please call Employee Health at 713-500-3267. The providers can check your records.

  Students may contact UTHealth Student Health and Counseling Services at 713-500-5171.

  All others, including UTP/Insperity Employees, should contact their health care provider to check immunization status.

• Who should I call if I think I have the measles?

  Please call your health care provider immediately if you think you have the measles and are experiencing following symptoms:

  • Rash
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Red or Irritated Eyes
  • Runny Nose
• Is it more dangerous to have measles as an adult?

  Children younger than 5 and adults older than 20 are more likely to suffer from complications.

• I had measles as a kid. Am I immune?

  Yes, having measles normally confers immunity. However, you must be sure that you had laboratory-confirmed measles as a child. For additional information on measles immunity, visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Measles.

• If I get an MMR vaccine today, how long will it take to protect me?

  If you receive the MMR vaccine, within the first three days (72 hours) after exposure to measles you may get some protection against the disease, or have milder illness.

• I had my measles vaccine(s) as a child. Do I need to worry about it?

  According to the CDC, people who received two doses of the MMR vaccine after 1967 are considered to be protected for life.

  Very few people (about 3 out of 100) who get two doses of the vaccine are at risk to get the measles. Fully vaccinated people who get the measles will likely have a milder form and they are less likely to spread it.

• I had two MMRs as a kid. Should I get a booster?

  No, the CDC considers people who received two doses of the vaccine after 1967 to be protected for life.

• I think I had the MMR but I’m not sure. What should I do?

  There are several options. Ideally, try to find your immunization records to show that you had two doses after 1967. If you do not have written documentation of measles immunity, you should get vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. Another option is contact your health care provider and request to be checked for immunity to measles through a blood test. If there is no evidence of vaccination, you will need to get an MMR vaccination.

• If I’ve never had MMR, do I only need one vaccine or a bigger dose?

  Adults who have never been vaccinated and will not be in a high-risk setting for measles transmission should receive at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. Health care personnel should receive two doses of MMR vaccine.

• Can I get the vaccine if I am pregnant?

  No, pregnant women should not be vaccinated against measles. Please discuss options with your health care provider if you believe you are at risk.

• Will it cause harm to my unborn baby like rubella or chickenpox?

  Measles can be transmitted to the baby and cause harm. Non-immune pregnant women who contract measles are at increased risk for serious maternal and fetal complications.

• My wife is pregnant. If I get the vaccine do I put her or the baby at risk?

  No, the vaccine will not produce symptoms that can be transmitted to others.

• What if I’m allergic to eggs? Can I still get the MMR?

  Yes, the MMR can safely be administered to those with egg allergies because the MMR is grown on chick cells and not the egg white or yolk.

• I have proof of my two MMRs but my titers are negative. What should I do?

  Revaccination is not necessary for individuals who have documentation of age-appropriate vaccination but lack serologic evidence of immunity, except for women of childbearing age who are not immune to rubella; such women should receive one additional dose of MMR (maximum of three doses) but need not be retested for serologic evidence of immunity.

• Can I still get the measles if I have had my MMRs?

  Yes but it is highly unlikely, as 97 percent of people are protected after two doses of the MMR.

• I heard the MMR vaccine causes autism. Is that true?

  The link between autism and the MMR vaccine came from a fraudulent study that has since been retracted. Extensive research has shown you definitely cannot get autism from the vaccine.