There is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
With measles outbreaks occurring in 24 states this year, many adults are wondering if they should get a vaccine booster.
“The overwhelming majority of Americans who get two doses of the measles vaccine are protected for life and do not need a booster,” says says Dr. Travis Stork, an ER physician, host ofThe Doctorsand a member ofPEOPLE’s Health Squad.
But if you only had one measles vaccine as a childandare in a high-risk transmission setting — that meanscollege students, healthcare personnel, international travelers and people who live in a neighborhood orcommunity that is experiencing a measles outbreak— you should get a second vaccine, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.
Another group that may want to consider getting a booster, according to Stork, is older adults. “The measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, andsome early versions of the vaccine were not as effectiveas those offered today,” he says.
Of course, some people might not have their actual vaccination records. Without written documentation of measles immunity, you can either get a simple blood test done at your doctor’s office, or just get vaccinated. That’s the best thing you can do if you are truly unsure. “There is no harm in getting another dose of MMR vaccine if you may already be immune to measles (or mumps or rubella),” states the CDC on its website.
Even if you are exposed to the measles, it’s “very unlikely” that you will get sick if you have been vaccinated, according to Dr. Stork. “Only about three out of 100 people who get two doses of measles vaccine will still get measles if exposed to the virus, and those will have a much milder illness and are less likely to spread the disease to others.”
People who should not receive the vaccine include pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, vaccine allergies, tuberculosis or who have received a blood transfusion recently.
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So far this year,880 individual cases of measleshave been confirmed in 24 states, the largest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1994 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.
Though measles were considered eradicated in this countrythanks to the measles vaccine, the disease is spreading in areaswhere people go unvaccinated. This is partially due tothe spread of misinformation about the vaccine, which has led some parents to opt out of giving children the life-saving protections.
source: people.com
