The key to measles prevention is vaccination. Because measles is so contagious, a very high level of immunization in the population is critical, says Adalja.
The Measles Vaccine
Measles can be prevented with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In the United States, infectious-disease experts recommend routine immunization for children at ages 12 to 15 months and 4 through 6 years old.
“More than 95 percent of a population needs to be protected, or this virus will find a way to spread. That’s why the herd immunity threshold for measles is very high, much higher than for any other infectious disease,” says Adalja.
“Measles is a great example of the fact that vaccines work — before the vaccine, this disease left a mark on almost every American child,” says Adalja. In the decade before 1963, when the vaccine became available, almost every child in the United States got measles before they turned 15. It’s estimated that three to four million people in the United States were infected with measles each year, and an estimated 400 to 500 died of complications.
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Can the MMR Vaccine Cause Autism?
Some people are hesitant to get their child vaccinated because of a fear that the vaccine may increase the risk of autism. A link was reported in a 1998 study that was later shown to use falsified data, and no other study since that time has ever shown a connection, including large studies that examined hundreds of thousands of children who received the MMR vaccine.
Studies show a 4 in 10,000 risk of a febrile seizure after the vaccine, which is substantially lower than the risk associated with the measles infection.
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Measles Booster Shots
Because of the uptick in U.S. measles outbreaks, some adults may need a measles booster shot. People born before 1989 (which is when two doses of the vaccine began to be given, rather than one) or vaccinated between 1962 and 1967 (a period where people received a less effective vaccine) may not have full protection.
If you aren’t sure of your vaccine history, an extra dose of the MMR is a safe way to stay protected. Even if you’re unsure, it’s not harmful to get the booster.
People who are at higher risk of measles — for example, healthcare workers, teachers, or people who work in day cares — should talk to their provider and consider getting a booster.
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Can Vitamin A Supplements or Cod Liver Oil Prevent Measles?
Vitamin A doesn’t prevent measles, and if a person doesn’t have measles, they should not take it as a preventive measure, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. There is no evidence that any dose of vitamin A will protect a person from measles infection, and too much vitamin A can be toxic.
Cod liver oil, which is high in vitamin A and D, is also not effective in prevention and can be dangerous in large quantities.
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