Do I Need a Measles Booster if I Was Vaccinated as a Kid? Experts Weigh In

With a recent measles outbreak in Texas sparking concern across the U.S., many are questioning whether they need a booster shot to stay protected. While most adults who were vaccinated as children are considered immune, certain factors—such as age, travel and exposure risk—may warrant an additional dose. Here's what experts say about who needs a booster and how to stay protected. Newsweek contacted medical experts for comment.

Why It Matters

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread through airborne transmission and contaminated surfaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles cases have been reported in 10 U.S. states since the beginning of 2025. Per the CDC, maintaining a high level of immunity within communities is crucial to preventing outbreaks and protecting those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions. Pulmonary internal medicine and critical care doctor Panagis Galiatsatos said the outbreak poses a risk for adults in the more vulnerable population. "Those individuals should talk to their primary care clinician about if they're a good candidate for boosting themselves," he said.

What to Know About Measles Vaccinations and Boosters

The CDC states that two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are 97 percent effective at preventing measles. According to the CDC, adults who received both doses as children are generally considered immune for life. However, there are exceptions:

• People who were vaccinated prior to 1968 may have received an inactivated vaccine. The CDC advises these individuals should be revaccinated with at least one dose of live attenuated measles vaccine.
• Health care professionals born before 1957 without laboratory evidence of immunity or disease should consider getting two doses of MMR vaccine.
• International travelers should ensure they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine, as measles remains prevalent in many parts of the world.
• Those who work in health care or settings with high exposure risk, such as schools, may also need an additional dose.

Similarly, Galiatsatos said individuals with significant morbidities, health issues and older adults should "talk to their primary care clinician about if they're a good candidate for boosting." There's also an emphasis on boosters for front line workers and individuals who work primarily with children. "I think public health strategies are going to be focusing on these two populations to make sure we can protect them as much as possible from such outbreaks," Galiatsatos said. However, everyone benefits from having conversations with their primary care doctor about protection against measles, he said.

What Age Do You Get the Measles Vaccine?

In the U.S., the first dose of the MMR vaccine is recommended at 12-15 months of age. The second dose is recommended at 4-6 years old, generally right before children enter kindergarten, and about 97 percent of children will be fully protected following that second dose, per Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The MMR vaccine can be given to children as young as 6 months old in special cases, such as international travel or during outbreaks, but it does not replace the routine two-dose schedule.

Is There a Measles Vaccine Mandate?

Per the CDC, every state has laws that require children entering child care or students starting schools to have certain vaccinations. The ACIP recommends that all states require these groups to be up to date on MMR vaccine. For example, in New York State, children attending day care and pre-K through 12th grade must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule in order to attend or remain in school, per NYS Department of Health. But there is no federal law that requires this. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID): "The best defense against measles is vaccination, and if you are not sure of your immunity or vaccination status, it is safe to get a measles vaccine."

Texas Measles Outbreak Update

A measles outbreak in west Texas has been linked to a Mennonite community with low vaccination rates. As of February 28, Texas has reported 146 cases, with 20 hospitalizations. One measles-related death has been reported, marking the first U.S. measles fatality since 2015. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), called the outbreak a "call to action." In a press conference, he pushed for parents to consider vaccination, saying the MMR vaccine is critical to avoid the spread. "All parents should consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine," Kennedy wrote in an op-ed published on Fox News Digital. "The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons."