Measles has been rising globally lately. There have been an estimated 10.3 million circumstances worldwide in 2023, a 20% improve from 2022.

Outbreaks are being reported all around the world together with in the USA, Europe and the Western Pacific area (which incorporates Australia). For instance, Vietnam has reportedly seen 1000’s of circumstances in 2024 and 2025.

In Australia, 77 circumstances of measles have been recorded within the first 5 months of 2025, in contrast with 57 circumstances in all of 2024.

Measles circumstances in Australia are virtually all associated to worldwide journey. They happen in travellers getting back from abroad, or are contracted domestically after mixing with an contaminated traveller or their contacts.

Measles mostly impacts kids and is preventable with vaccination, given in Australia in two doses at 12 and 18 months previous. However in mild of present outbreaks globally, is there a case for reviewing the timing of measles vaccinations?

Some measles fundamentals

Measles is attributable to a virus belonging to the genus Morbillivirus. Signs embody a fever, cough, runny nostril and a rash. Whereas it presents as a light sickness generally, measles can result in extreme illness requiring hospitalisation, and even loss of life. Giant outbreaks can overwhelm well being programs.

Measles can have severe well being penalties, reminiscent of within the mind and the immune system, years after the an infection.

Measles spreads from individual to individual through small respiratory droplets that may stay suspended within the air for 2 hours. It’s extremely contagious – one particular person with measles can unfold the an infection to 12–18 individuals who aren’t immune.

As a result of measles is so infectious, the World Well being Group (WHO) recommends two-dose vaccination protection above 95% to cease the unfold and obtain “herd immunity”.

Low and declining vaccine protection, particularly for the reason that COVID pandemic, is driving international outbreaks.

Learn extra:
What are the signs of measles? How lengthy does the vaccine final? Specialists reply 6 key questions

When are kids vaccinated towards measles?

New child infants are usually protected towards measles due to maternal antibodies. Maternal antibodies get handed from the mom to the infant through the placenta and in breast milk, and supply safety towards infections together with measles.

The WHO advises everybody ought to obtain two doses of measles vaccination. In locations the place there’s a variety of measles circulating, kids are usually really helpful to have the primary dose at round 9 months previous. It’s because it’s anticipated maternal antibodies would have declined considerably in most infants by that age, leaving them susceptible to an infection.

If maternal measles antibodies are nonetheless current, the vaccine is much less prone to produce an immune response.

Analysis has additionally proven a measles vaccine given at lower than 8.5 months of age may end up in an antibody response which declines extra shortly. This may be as a result of interference with maternal antibodies, however researchers are nonetheless attempting to grasp the explanations for this.

A second dose of the vaccine is often given 6–9 months later. A second dose is vital as a result of about 10–15% of youngsters don’t develop antibodies after the primary vaccine.

In settings the place measles transmission is below higher management, a primary dose is really helpful at 12 months of age. Vaccination at 12 months in contrast with 9 months is taken into account to generate a stronger, longer-lasting immune response.

In Australia, kids are routinely given the measles-mumps- rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 months and the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV, with “varicella” being chickenpox) vaccine at 18 months.

Infants at larger danger of catching the illness can be given a further early dose. In Australia, that is really helpful for infants as younger as six months when there’s an outbreak or in the event that they’re travelling abroad to a high-risk setting.

A brand new research taking a look at measles antibodies in infants

A latest evaluation checked out measles antibody information from infants below 9 months previous dwelling in low- and middle-income international locations. The evaluation mixed the outcomes from 20 research, together with greater than 8,000 infants. The researchers discovered that whereas 81% of newborns had maternal antibodies to measles, solely 30% of infants aged 4 months had maternal antibodies.

This research suggests maternal antibodies to measles decline a lot sooner than beforehand thought. It raises the query of whether or not the primary dose of measles vaccine is given too late to maximise infants’ safety, particularly when there’s a variety of measles round.

Ought to we deliver the measles vaccine ahead in Australia?

All the information on this research comes from low- and middle-income international locations, and may not mirror the state of affairs in Australia the place we now have a lot larger vaccine protection for measles, and only a few circumstances.

Australia’s protection for 2 doses of the MMR vaccine at age two is above 92%.

Though that is decrease than the optimum 95%, the general danger of measles surging in Australia is comparatively low.

Nonetheless, there could also be a case for broadening the age at which an early further dose of the measles vaccine could be given to kids at larger danger. In New Zealand, infants as younger as 4 months can obtain a measles vaccine earlier than travelling to an endemic nation.

However the present routine immunisation schedule in Australia is unlikely to alter.

Including an additional dose to the schedule can be expensive and logistically tough. Reducing the age for the primary dose might have some benefits in sure settings, and doesn’t pose any security issues, however additional proof can be required to assist this transformation. Specifically, analysis is required to make sure it wouldn’t negatively have an effect on the longer-term safety that vaccination presents from measles.

Ensuring you’re protected

Within the meantime, guaranteeing excessive ranges of measles vaccine protection with two doses is a worldwide precedence.

Folks born after 1966 are really helpful to have two doses of measles vaccine. It’s because these born earlier than the mid-Sixties doubtless caught measles as kids (when the vaccine was not but out there) and would due to this fact have pure immunity.

In case you’re uncertain about your vaccination standing, you may examine this by means of the Australian Immunisation Register. In case you don’t have a documented report, ask your physician for recommendation.

Catch-up vaccination is on the market below the Nationwide Immunisation Program.