Agencies
Services
Measles Information for Parents/Guardians
Measles is a serious, highly contagious virus that can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children. It spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or by direct contact with infected nose or throat secretions. Symptoms of a measles infection include a high fever, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes, and a rash that starts on the head around the hairline and moves down the body.
There is no treatment or cure for measles, and the best way to prevent measles is through vaccination. The measles vaccine is recommended for children at 12-15 months of age, with a second dose recommended at 4-6 years of age. The vaccine is called MMR and is given to help protect from measles, mumps, and rubella. Another combination vaccine called MMRV also helps protect against varicella (chickenpox). The MMR vaccine is safe and very effective, with two doses providing about 97% protection against a measles infection.
Talk with your child’s clinician about getting the MMR vaccine according to the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule to ensure your child is protected.
