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can i get measles if i am vaccinated

Yes, it is possible—but uncommon—to get measles even if you are vaccinated, especially if you have had only one dose or if your immune response has waned over many years.

How Well The Measles Vaccine Works

  • One dose of measles‑containing vaccine (like MMR) given around 12–15 months protects about 85–95% of people.
  • With two doses, effectiveness is extremely high: large studies have found two‑dose effectiveness around 95–99% , with only a slight decline decades later.
  • Because measles is so infectious, health agencies aim for at least 95% of the population vaccinated to prevent outbreaks.

How You Can Still Get Measles When Vaccinated

Even with a very strong vaccine, no vaccine is 100% perfect, so a small number of “breakthrough” cases happen. Common reasons include:

  • Primary vaccine failure : a person’s immune system never develops enough protection after vaccination (this happens in a small fraction after dose 1, much less after dose 2).
  • Waning immunity : protection can slowly decrease over decades, although recent data show two‑dose protection remains very high even many years later.
  • Intense exposure : measles spreads incredibly easily, so in high‑exposure settings (household, school, healthcare) even a few people with weaker responses can get infected.

When vaccinated people do get measles, illness is often milder and complications are less likely compared with people who were never vaccinated.

What This Means For You Practically

If you have had two documented MMR doses and are generally healthy:

  • Your risk of catching measles is very low , even during outbreaks.
  • If you are exposed and develop high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a spreading rash, you should still call a healthcare provider, because measles needs quick public health follow‑up.
  • People with weakened immune systems, infants too young for full vaccination, and pregnant people rely heavily on those around them being immunized, which is why keeping high coverage is so important.

If You’re Worried Right Now

Consider these steps (not a substitute for medical care):

  1. Check your records
    • Two doses of MMR (usually in childhood) generally mean strong, long‑lasting protection.
  1. Ask your doctor if a blood test or booster is needed
    • In some high‑risk situations (healthcare workers, travel to outbreak areas), clinicians may check measles antibodies or recommend another dose if records are unclear.
  1. Watch for classic symptoms after a known exposure
    • Fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, then a red blotchy rash starting on the face and spreading down the body.

Bottom line: you can get measles if vaccinated, but if you’ve had two doses your risk is very low, and you’re far better protected than someone unvaccinated.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.