The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people who intend to travel throughout the United States to areas where there is a measles outbreak and travelers with planned international travel should take the following steps to protect themselves against measles.
- Talk to your doctor and/or your child’s doctor about the MMR vaccine and ensure that you have received the necessary vaccines.
- Children aged 12 months and older and adults should have two doses of the MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days, to maximize their protection.
- Infants 6 through 11 months of age traveling internationally should be given one dose of the MMR vaccine. These children will still need their regularly scheduled two MMR doses at 12 months of age and older.
- For those infants aged 6 to 11 months who are traveling to domestic areas with an outbreak, clinicians should look to the vaccination guidance of the state or local health department for the residents of the outbreak-affected community to determine whether vaccination is needed. If given a dose, the child will still need their regularly scheduled two MMR doses at 12 months of age and older.
- Check your travel destination and the CDC’s Global Measles Travel Health Notice for travel advice specific to your planned international destination.
- Upon return from travel to a domestic area with an ongoing measles outbreak or international travel, watch for signs and symptoms of measles for three weeks. If you or your child becomes ill with a rash and a high fever, call your clinician and let them know about your recent travel and your MMR vaccine history.
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