Some Older Adults May Still Need a Measles Vaccine

Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported in April that only 4 percent of persons with measles were older than 50, health authorities are worried that older people who were never vaccinated or received an earlier, less effective vaccination could be hit hard by the disease, reports the Boston Herald . Tufts Medical Center's Brian Chow said if any adult has an uncertain immunization status, a simple blood test can help. "If you're not sure, there's no risk to getting the vaccine again," he stated. Billerica Council On Aging Director Jean Patel Bushnell said she intends to notify her members about this public health risk "as quickly as possible." Brigham and Women's Hospital's Paul Sax said persons born before 1957 are "pretty much guaranteed to be immune," but cautioned that "it makes sense for older adults to do a double check of their vaccine history."