How The Measles Vaccine Protects Your Child

Public health experts declared in 2000 that measles was eliminated in the United States due to the widespread use of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

In recent years, however, fewer U.S. families have vaccinated their children for measles. As vaccination rates drop, measles infections rise, and the U.S. has its highest case rates in 30 years. A growing number of states have experienced a spread of this highly contagious virus, including Indiana and Illinois.

“Outbreaks typically occur in small communities where immunization rates have fallen below 92 or 93 percent,” said Erica Kaufman West, MD, infectious disease physician at Franciscan Health Dyer. “Once you get below that threshold, the notion of ‘community immunity’ goes away, and these outbreaks can take hold.”

What Is Measles, And Why Should I Be Concerned?

Measles is a respiratory virus that spreads quickly through the air. About 9 in 10 unvaccinated people exposed to measles will become infected.

While many people think of measles as a rash or fever that will clear up in a few days, the reality is that measles can pose serious health complications for kids. These complications can include hospitalization, brain swelling or death.

Global efforts to vaccinate more children have brought down death rates. However, measles still claims more than 100,000 lives each year worldwide, with most of these deaths among children.

Learn more about measles symptoms and treatments.

What Is The Measles Vaccine?

The measles vaccine is 94 percent effective after one dose and 97 percent effective after two. Doctors use either an MMR or MMRV vaccine.

• The two-part MMR vaccine protects people from three serious viral diseases: measles, mumps and rubella. The MMR vaccine is given in two doses, typically between 12 months and 15 months and then between the ages of 4 and 6.
• The MMRV vaccine protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) and is available for children 12 months through 12 years of age.

The vaccine helps your immune system, which works every minute of the day to fight bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that can cause disease.

“The measles vaccine trains your immune system to recognize the measles virus and fight it off,” Dr. West explained. “If a vaccinated person is exposed to measles, it’s likely they won’t get measles or will only get a mild case.”

Measles vaccine side effects

Like all medications, vaccines can cause side effects, but most are mild and temporary.

Side effects of measles vaccines are usually mild, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These include:

• Soreness in the arm at the injection site
• Redness or swelling at or near the injection site
• Fever
• Mild rash
• Temporary joint pain and stiffness

Some children may develop a fever or pink rash on the trunk that lasts two or three days. These symptoms typically appear six to 12 days following the vaccination. No treatment is necessary for these symptoms, and the rash is not contagious. Children can continue to attend childcare or school without concern.

More serious reactions to the measles vaccine are exceedingly rare. The CDC explains that these can include seizures, often linked to fever, or a temporary decrease in platelet count, which can lead to unusual bleeding or bruising. Individuals with diminished immune systems should avoid the MMR vaccine, as it may cause life-threatening infections.

Is the measles vaccine safe?

Some people cite concerns about the measles vaccine’s ingredients. “When scientists first developed the measles vaccine, doctors stored the vaccines in big bottles,” Dr. West said. “This led to concerns about the contamination risk and the preservatives needed to keep them fresh.

“However, modern vaccines use single-dose vials,” she added. “They don’t contain mercury-based preservatives, and they are safe from contamination.”

Dr. West adds that a 1990s paper falsely suggested a link between vaccines and autism. The paper was later retracted, and several large studies have shown no such association.

What Should A Concerned Parent Do?

If you have questions or concerns about the measles vaccine, you’re not alone. And no one expects you to have all the answers. Your child’s pediatrician is a trusted partner who can help you understand how vaccines work and what’s best for your child’s health. Don’t hesitate to start the conversation.

Do you need a pediatrician? Call (877) 285-6180 or schedule an appointment online.