Should we hurry and vaccinate our babies for measles? 8 questions answered.

It’s easy to feel anxious about the measles outbreaks in Texas and Europe if you have kids who have not been vaccinated yet – or fully vaccinated – for measles. Measles is a highly contagious, deadly disease with symptoms such as high fever and a red-spotty rash that is respiratory-spread, or spread through the air and breath.

In Texas, the outbreaks were hitting the South Plains and Panhandle regions. As of April 8, two unvaccinated school-aged children have died and nearly 500 cases reported, according to Texas Department of State Health Services.

“Measles causes serious complications for 20% to 30% of people who get infected, and it’s one of the most contagious diseases,” said Dr. Sameena Hassan, pediatrician with Novant Health Dilworth Pediatrics in Charlotte.

The measles vaccines (and boosters) are incredibly effective, but most kids don’t get their first vaccine until age one, with the second dose coming years later. So, should we be rushing to get our young kids fully vaccinated?

The short version for parents of kids in the U.S. (as of March 2025): There is no reason to worry about vaccinating your kids earlier than the standard schedule – unless you are living in or planning to travel to an area of known outbreak or are planning to travel internationally.

“There’s no reason to panic,” Hassan said. “It’s something to watch, it’s something to think about, but concern and anxiety about it probably shouldn’t consume your days.”

Hassan gets deeper into the details and answers eight questions about the measles vaccines.

When do kids usually get the measles vaccine?

The standard schedule and recommendations for the vaccines have not changed – despite the recent outbreaks – and are not likely to change any time soon.

● Generally, kids get the first MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine for between 12 to 15 months of age.

● They get the second vaccine between 4 to 6 years of age.

What’s in the measles vaccine?

The MMR vaccine contains live virus strains and targets measles, mumps and rubella. Rubella, also called German measles, is a similar viral infection that largely affects the salivary glands and has symptoms like swelling in the jaw and cheeks. The second dose of the MMR vaccine is typically the MMRV vaccine, which includes one more protective agent against varicella, or chickenpox. Chickenpox also has symptoms including fever and itchy rash.

How effective is the measles vaccine for kids?

The measles vaccine is excellent at offering protection, and it’s protective for communities as a whole to vaccinate your child. The first dose provides 93% immunity and the second dose provides 97% immunity.

Is it OK for a baby to get several vaccines in one vaccine batch?

Yes, this is standard and makes it possible for a child to get multiple vaccines in one needle poke instead of many needle pokes. It’s not too much for a child’s body or immune system to handle.

Why do kids have to wait until 1 year old for the measles vaccine?

The shot doesn’t effectively last long term in the body until age 1. If a child does get the first vaccine between ages 6 to 12 months, it provides temporary immunity. That child would then need to repeat the first vaccine after age 1 before receiving the second dose.

When should you consider the measles vaccines for your child before age 1?

There are three instances where it would be recommended for a child under the age of 1 to get an early measles vaccine:

● There’s a measles outbreak in that child’s community.

● The child has had a known exposure to measles, which would be highly unusual.

● The child will be traveling internationally. In this case, the child should be vaccinated two weeks prior to travel, because that’s about how long it takes for the vaccine to become effective.

Can a child get the second dose of the measles vaccine early?

Yes, the second vaccine can be given 28 days after the first vaccine if there’s a reason to make sure the child has the most immunity possible – such as if they are about to travel internationally or there’s an outbreak in their community.

What should you do if your kid has measles symptoms like fever, rash and runny nose?

Don’t panic and assume it’s measles. This is an incredibly common constellation of symptoms for a lot of common, non-scary viruses that a child can usually recover from without medication. Also don’t immediately take them to a pediatric office or urgent care waiting room – call your pediatrician and share your concerns before.