I am a father / mother, do I have to get vaccinated again against measles?

WHO has recently warned about the increase in measles cases in Europe and the "dramatic resurgence" of the disease in four countries in the region where it was considered eradicated. It is a very contagious viral disease, which in case of having them can be very serious, especially in risk groups such as children under five, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems and adults over 20 years.

The disease has no treatment and the vaccine is the only, simple and effective way to prevent the disease, so If you are a parent or mother and do not know if you have to get a measles vaccination again so that your family is protected, we will explain everything.

It is important to be protected, not just children

We usually talk about the measles vaccine in children, (within the triple viral vaccine) but it is important that adults are protected to avoid infections that put our children at risk, especially in situations of greater vulnerability such as babies who have not yet received the vaccine (before 12 months, age at which the first dose is applied), or in children who cannot receive it because they are immunocompromised.

On Magnet Measles has already returned to four countries in Europe. And with it, vaccines for adults

To cope with the measles outbreak, the Ministry of Health has approved a accelerated vaccination schedule in which the authorities emphasize that:

"Priority should be given to protection against easily transmitted or serious diseases. Therefore, vaccination against measles and rubella, poliomyelitis, tetanus and diphtheria is a priority in susceptible persons of any age."

The plan establishes general vaccination guidelines, according to the disease and with priority according to the person's age, although it recommends that the calendars be personalized to the history of each patient. As for age, it is divided into three phases: first, those under seven years old; then between the ages of seven and 18; and finally for those over 18, in which it is specified that:

"Vaccination is recommended in people born in Spain since 1970 with no documented vaccination history and in people not born in Spain and without previous vaccination documentation "

The Spanish Association of Vaccination says that adults aged 40 to 50 should only be vaccinated if they have not had measles or have not been vaccinated against measles with two doses. In Babies and more Vaccine calendar 2019: these are the novelties

Measles vaccine in adults

The measles vaccine began to be administered in Spain in 1978, increasing its coverage very slowly and gradually, not reaching high coverage, close to 80 percent, until 1987 (according to the report "The measles situation in Spain")

That is why there are many adults who have not been vaccinated as children, who have not completed their vaccination, or do not even know if they have passed the disease or not. "As measles circulated less there was also part of the population that did not pass the disease," explains Pere Godoy president of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology.

In these cases, said body recommends vaccination of people between 40 and 50 years old, to update their vaccines and avoid new infections.

Lifetime vaccination schedule recommended (2019)

How many doses are necessary?

Health recommends the administration of two doses of the triple viral with an interval of at least four weeks Between doses The vaccine is contraindicated in pregnant women and women of childbearing age should avoid pregnancy within four weeks of vaccination.

If a dose has been previously administered, a single dose will be administered, regardless of the time that has elapsed since the previous administration.

In Babies and more WHO warns that measles cases in the world have skyrocketed to historical figures

Video: Facts about the Measles MMR Vaccine. UCLA Health (March 2024).