Measles Immunization Information
Description
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus
Symptoms
Rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (lasts about a week)
Complications
Diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and death
Transmission
Spread by contact with an infected person, through coughing and sneezing (highly contagious)
Vaccine
Measles vaccine (contained in MMR, MR and measles vaccines) can prevent this disease.
As an adult, do I need it?
*You do NOT need the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR) if:
- You had blood tests that show you are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella.
- You are a male born before 1957.
- You are a female born before 1957 who is sure she is not having more children, has already had rubella vaccine, or has had a positive rubella test.
- You already had two doses of MMR or one dose of MMR plus a second dose of measles vaccine.
- You already had one dose of MMR and are not at high risk of measles or mumps exposure.
You SHOULD get the MMR vaccine if you are not among the categories listed above, and
- You are a college student, trade school student, or other student beyond high school.
- You work in a hospital or other medical facility.
- You travel internationally, or are a passenger on a cruise ship.
- You are a woman of childbearing age.
Vaccine Information Statement
Measels Mumps and Rubella Fact Sheet English (pdf)
Measels Mumps and Rubella Fact Sheet Spanish (pdf)