People born before 1989 may need another measles vaccine

The United States is at the heart of the worst measles epidemic since the country was naturally eliminated from the country in 2000. But while the majority of the victims are children whose parents decided not to vaccinate them or people who chose not to do so, even people who received measles vaccine as children could still be at real risk, depending on their age.

Earlier this month, Israeli public health officials announced that a 43-year-old Israeli woman had fallen into deep coma as a result of measles infection, a rare complication of the disease. viral resembling the flu. Israel is currently struggling with its own measles epidemics and, as in the United States, it is largely due to transmission between pockets of unvaccinated persons (the woman was an air hostess in an airline conducting regular flights between the United States and Israel). may have it contracted in one or the other country). But the woman herself has been vaccinated, but not to the same extent as many people now.

Nowadays, children receive two doses of combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, from the age of one year. But as recently as the 1980s, Americans and other countries had only one chance. It was only in 1989, following a series of outbreaks, that US public health experts approved a two-dose schedule. The MMR vaccine, like many others, is not perfectly effective against measles, even with two injections (97% effective), but it is still better than one (93 effective).

This does not necessarily mean that all people born before 1989 should hurry up and be vaccinated again with the MMR vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only recommend, for example, vaccinated persons from 1963 to 1967 to become familiar with the current MMR vaccine, as this older version was not very effective. The CDC also recommends that unvaccinated adults have at least one protection.

That said, we know that our immunity against measles, provided with the vaccine, may decline several years or decades later, even in people who have received two vaccines. It is also interesting to note that research has also shown that the number of growing mumps outbreaks in young people may be related to a much faster decline in immunity with MMR vaccine, which has prompted some scientists to ask for a third systematic booster at the age of 18 years. In addition, the CDC states that public health officials may recommend a third reminder for people at increased risk of mumps, such as those living near an ongoing epidemic.

But what if you live in a region that is currently experiencing a measles epidemic? From what we know, there is little additional benefit to getting a third MMR vaccine for measles alone. But if you have only received one MMR vaccine (or if you do not know your immunization history), it's not really difficult to see a doctor to ask him or her to vaccinate, especially if you live in one of the five states. (California, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Washington) where an epidemic is currently raging. Indeed, at least on Twitter, vaccinated people, including doctorsreported having consulted their doctor to have their antibody levels tested and, in some cases, getting a reminder if these levels were particularly low.