Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, thanks to widespread vaccination with the MMR vaccine. Unfortunately, in recent weeks, there has been an alarming increase in measles cases across the country – from Texas and New Mexico to New York and Rhode Island and the first reported death in a decade.
Here are several things to know about measles and the MMR vaccine, which is recommended for all babies and young children.
Measles is a highly contagious and life-threatening virus.
- Before vaccines were available starting in the 1960s, there were 3 to 4 million cases of measles annually. Over 90% of children would contract the measles virus by the age of 15. This led to 400 to 500 deaths per year plus the potential for long-term complications and disability for some people.
- Measles symptoms early on include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A distinctive rash appears roughly 3-5 days after onset of symptoms. Long term complications can include respiratory complications (like bacterial pneumonia) and, in some cases, brain swelling and inflammation (called encephalitis). These complications can ultimately lead to death.
- In 2023, 107,500 people globally died from measles, most of whom were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under the age of five.
Vaccines are safe, effective and necessary to prevent measles.
- Measles is one of the most contagious infections in the world. People without prior immunity are 90% likely to contract measles if they were exposed in close-contact settings. What’s more, the measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a space.
- One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles, and a second dose increases its effectiveness to 97%. It is recommended that children receive two doses.
- Vaccines are also subject to a rigorous safety and efficacy testing and review prior to approval and are closely monitored after approval. Thanks to data from this testing and studies by independent researchers, there is overwhelming evidence that the MMR vaccine is safe.
Vaccines highlight the biopharmaceutical industry’s commitment to disease prevention – not just treatment.
- In the United States alone, 21 diseases are now preventable due to childhood vaccines, preventing an estimated 508 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations and over 1.1 million deaths among children born between 1994 and 2023. This includes polio prevention, which has been hailed a significant public health victory.
- Biopharmaceutical companies invest heavily in vaccine research and development to create a brighter future, and many vaccines in the pipeline are using new technologies that could help prevent the spread of HIV, protect against malaria and treat or prevent several types of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and allergies.
I often think of the young cancer patients that I care for in the emergency department, who are immune suppressed from chemotherapy, and how they need the collective action of all Americans to be vaccinated in order to be protected while they fight cancer. We have the necessary tool - a highly effective MMR vaccine – to safely stop this measles outbreak in its tracks – and we must use it.
This is why we encourage you to consult your health care provider to ensure you and your children are up to date on recommended vaccines, including MMR.
Mike Ybarra
Michael Ybarra, M.D., is an emergency physician and Chief Medical Officer at PhRMA. He also serves as Senior Vice President in Advocacy and Strategic Alliances. In these roles, he leads PhRMA’s stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships on federal and international health policy issues. He is PhRMA’s liaison representative to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and is the co-convener of PhRMA’s R&D Leadership Forum. Dr. Ybarra continues to see patients clinically in the emergency department at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
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Mike Ybarra
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What you need to know: Measles and the MMR vaccine
Father holding child on his shoulders