Should adults get booster shots of childhood vaccines? What to know amid Texas measles outbreak
In Texas, at least 90 cases of measles have been reported in recent weeks across the northwest part of that state.
In Texas, at least 90 cases of measles have been reported in recent weeks across the northwest part of that state. Among those cases are five people who say they’ve been vaccinated.
It’s not known whether those five cases were fully vaccinated. Whether you’re watching this unfold from Texas or elsewhere, you might be wondering: Should you look into getting a booster shot for measles or other infectious diseases?
For measles, the short answer is no, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“The measles vaccine is one of our most extraordinarily successful vaccines,” said Schaffner, who was formerly the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “If you’ve been appropriately vaccinated in childhood, you don’t have to worry about [getting a booster].”
That said, he added, “all vaccines are not identical. Some are better than others.” The protective elements of a few routine childhood vaccinations wane over time, which means boosters are recommended for all adults; for some adults with certain ailments or life circumstances, other boosters may be recommended.
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