Measles Protection

Am I protected against measles?

People who are unsure of their measles immunity status should contact their healthcare provider. People exposed to measles may need to be excluded from certain settings (childcare, schools, post-high school educational institutions, healthcare, workplace) until they can provide documented proof of immunity, or up to 21 days after a measles exposure.

The CDC considers you protected from measles if you have written documentation (records) showing at least one of the following:

You received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, and you are a(n):
- school-aged child (grades K-12)
- adult who will be in a setting that poses a high risk for measles transmission, including students at post-high school education institutions, healthcare personnel, and international travelers.
You received one dose of measles-containing vaccine, and you are a(n):
- preschool-aged child
- adult who will not be in a high-risk setting for measles transmission
A laboratory confirmed that you had measles at some point in your life
A laboratory confirmed you are immune to measles (positive serum measles IgG)
You were born before 1957

Infographic on how to protect your child from measles. Measles is still common in many parts of the world. Unvaccinated travelers who get measles in other countries continue to bring the disease into the United States. Give you child the best protection against measles with two doses of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine: 1st dose at 12-15 months and 2nd dose at 4-6 years. Traveling abroad with your child? Infants 6 to 11 months old need 1 dose of measles vaccine before traveling abroad. Children 12 months and older should receive 2 doses before travel. Check with you pediatrician before leaving on your trip to make sure your children are protected.

For international travelers, CDC considers you protected from measles if you have written documentation (records) showing at least one of the following:

You received one dose of measles-containing vaccine, and you are an infant aged 6–11 months
You received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, and you are a person 12 months or older
A laboratory confirmed that you had measles at some point in your life
A laboratory confirmed you are immune to measles (positive serum measles IgG)
You were born before 1957