Do I Need a Measles Booster? Experts Reveal Which Adults Should ...

Measles, or rubeola, probably isn’t an illness you’ve thought too much about, and there’s good reason for that. In 2000, the highly contagious virus was declared to be eliminated in the U.S. It had been a full year since any cases were reported, thanks to high rates of vaccination with the MMR (measle,mumps, rubella) vaccine, which is typically given in early childhood.

Then, in 2019, there was a major outbreak of measles, when it appeared in 31 states, for a total of 1,249 cases. Of those cases, 75% occurred in New York City or New York State, primarily among unvaccinated kids.

The last five years were outbreak-free, but as of February 18, 2025, Texas is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in almost three decades. So far, 58 cases have been reported, many of which concentrated in a rural Gaines County community where all the patients are unvaccinated; 13 have been hospitalized. Additionally, eight measles cases have been identified in an adjacent part of New Mexico.

Now, the concern is that measles will spread widely, and fast, to other parts of the country. That's because, according to data from ABC News, more and more parents are opting for exemptions so that their children don’t get the MMR vaccine. During the 2022-23 school year, 3% of all kindergarten students nationwide did not get the vaccine, the highest rate of exemptions ever in the U.S. Texas has an even higher exemption rate of 17.5%.

“The CDC recommends two doses of MMR immunizations, with the first dose at age 12 to 15 months and the second dose age 4 to 6 years,” says Ruchika Jain, MD, MMS, Infection prevention & control physician at Montefiore Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. “One dose of MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles, 78% effective against mumps, and 97% effective against rubella. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles and 88% effective against mumps.”

Adults can get measles, too – and the last thing you want is this potentially serious virus spreading through your family. We consulted some top doctors to get important details about measles and advice on what you can do now to keep your kids – and yourself — safe.

What are the symptoms of measles?

If you’re exposed to measles, you’ll start showing symptoms one to two weeks later. The “three C’s” are the classic hallmark of an early measles infection – cough, coryza (runny nose) and/or conjunctivitis (pinkeye) — plus a fever, which can spike as high as 104 degrees.

According to Mayo Clinic, additional symptoms include:

• A sore throat
• Koplik’s spots, which are small white spots that have a bluish-white center and a red background in your mouth, lining your cheek
• A skin rash with big blotches that connect to each other and can become raised, spreading from your face to your arms, chest, back, thighs, lower legs and feet
• Skin that appears darker
• Peeling skin about a week later

According to the Centers for Disease Control, measles can cause diarrhea and ear infections, both of which can become serious. Very severe complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis. Children under the age of 5 are most likely to experience these complications.

How does measles spread?

Measles is present in the nose and throat of a child or adult, and is spread by that person coughing or sneezing droplets or by contact with surfaces the droplets have landed on. You can spread measles for around eight days – four days before you see the rash, and during the first four days you have the rash.

If you’re unvaccinated and have never had measles, your chance of getting the virus is 90% after exposure. “Measles is very hard to avoid," says Shira Doron, MD, FIDSA, FSHEA, chief infection control officer of the Tufts Medicine health system and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. “Vaccination, while not 100% effective at preventing infection, makes the infection less severe in those who do get it. To avoid infection, healthcare workers wear respirators like N95s. People in areas with outbreaks could choose to wear an N95 for protection.”

How does the MMR vaccine work?

The vaccine is “live,” meaning it’s made from a weakened form of the measles, mumps, and rubella viruses. Almost no one gets measles from the vaccine, though – instead, your body builds antibodies against the virus from the shot.

Extensive research from over 50 years has shown that the MMR vaccine is very safe. If you read any misinformation that says otherwise on social media, or hear people say the vaccine is unsafe, take any questions you have straight to your doctor. It’s vital that you know the correct facts about the vaccine, and not avoid it by mistake for your kids and/or yourself.

If you were vaccinated against measles as a child, do you need a booster?

The MMR vaccine prevents measles in most people for life. “If you have received two doses of the MMR vaccine as a child, it’s likely you’re protected,” says Yoshua Quinones, MD, a board-certified internist in New York City.

There are exceptions, though. “If you received a measles vaccine in the 1960s, you should look into your vaccination records,” says Dr. Jain. “Those who have documents showing they received a live measles vaccine in the 1960s do not need to be revaccinated. People who were vaccinated in the 1960s with a measles vaccine of an unknown type should be revaccinated with at least one dose of live attenuated measles vaccine. From 1963 to 1967, there was a vaccine available that used dead measles virus, which proved to be ineffective.”

Also, “healthcare workers may have their MMR levels of antibodies tested,” Dr. Jain continues. “If the test is negative, another single dose of MMR should be administered. Antibody levels may also be checked during pregnancy; you can work with your physician to determine the safest time to receive this immunization.” Ask your doctor about an MMR test, which will measure your immunity. This could be helpful if you don’t have documentation of your vaccine status.

Otherwise? “If you had the two recommended childhood doses of MMR, you do not need another dose,” says Dr. Doron.

If you’re an unvaccinated adult, should you get the vaccine?

“Yes, yes and yes!” says Dr. Quinones. “If you have never been vaccinated or have lost immunity, it’s strongly recommended to get your vaccine as soon as possible.”

You want to act quickly, because there’s a time lag in that the shot is a two-step process. “If you have not yet had an MMR vaccine, speak with your doctor to start the immunization process of two doses 28 days apart,” says Dr. Jain. “If you work in healthcare, travel internationally or are a higher education student, these settings have a higher risk for transmission.” Some people do need to avoid the MMR vaccine, including pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant (you can get it later), people with allergies, and people with certain illnesses. Again, ask your doctor about any concerns you have.

What else you can do to protect yourself

Let’s say you're a teacher around small children — how can you max out prevention? “Ensure that you’re fully vaccinated, and always wash your hands,” advises Dr. Quinones. “If you are a teacher, it’s highly recommended for you to be vaccinated against MMR. Encourage parents (at your school) to get their kids immunized by explaining the risks and benefits of the MMR vaccine.”

The bottom line

If you’ve been vaccinated, doing your normal virus prevention stuff – hand hygiene, avoiding those who you know are sick, and wearing a mask–can add an extra layer of measles protection. If you get vaccinated within three days after being exposed to measles, you may not get sick, or have a milder course of disease, too. Get the shot, and make sure your kids do, too–it’s the smart, essential moves.