06/12/2025
As most of our patients and the entire country has probably heard, measles has entered Iowa. There have been three confirmed cases, one in Polk county, a child this past week in Johnson county (Iowa City/Coralville area) and a case of a vaccinated adult last week in eastern Iowa, location unknown. Measles is a highly contagious disease that, while most people will just feel awful for a while and recover fully, can lead to very serious consequences including encephalopathy and death. It also is a very hard "hit" to the immune system, leaving an infected individual prey to other opportunistic infections. Fortunately, for many years, measles has not been a great concern due to the extremely effective vaccine available for prevention. A single MMR is 93% effective and two doses are 97% effective in individuals that are not otherwise immunocompromised.
Waterford Family Medicine has always been highly in favor of the proper timing and usage of childhood and adult vaccines. Currently, the recommendations for measles vaccines are an MMR (it does not come individually as measles alone) at 12-15 months and a booster at 4-6 years. With a community outbreak or known potential exposure, it can be given as early as 6 months. Our local health department has not recommended early MMR vaccines at this time, but we will be keeping a close eye on this. We would definitely encourage that if your child has not had their vaccines as recommended in these age groups, that they get these as soon as possible.
There are certain adults who may be at risk of waned measles immunity. Most individuals born before 1957 are presumed to be immune due to natural exposure. Those vaccinated between 1959 and 1972 may have only received one MMR dosage and those specifically between 1963-1967 may have had a less effective vaccine. If a person has had two vaccines, they don't need another. Currently the CDC recommends if they've only had one, to consider another or consider checking MMR titers for immunity (a blood test). These things we can do in our office without an appointment, but please call 563-355-9990 first.
Waterford Family Medicine wants to help quell the fears of a contagious outbreak by assisting our patients in obtaining the preventative immunity that will help them. We also want to make sure that we avoid exposing our patients to possible contagion, especially for our many patients that may be immunocompromised due to meds, cancer treatment, disease, etc. If you or your child is having fever and rash, please call first before coming in as we are making accommodations to avoid potential exposure to others
Find routine MMR information, evidence of immunity, other considerations for measles vaccine.
