Do I still need a measles shot? The doctor in Florida weighs after the case of Miami School reported

Orlando, Fla. – On Tuesday, Florida's health officials confirmed the state's first measles case for years, which could ask many whether they are safe from the contagious disease.

The US centers for the control and prevention of diseases recommend two measles vaccine doses when they are a child. But if you made your shots 30 or 40 years ago, are you still sure?

News 6 was looking for an expert from Adventhealth to answer this.

Dr. Vincent HSU works in the hospital and has more than two decades of experience with infectious diseases and preventive medicine. According to his biography, he is also an assistant professor at the College of Medicine at the University of Central Florida.

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HSU said News 6 that as an adult, you don't have to worry if you had your measles shots as a child.

“If you already had measles vaccinations – and the CDC recommends two cans of vaccine when you were a child – you are considered protected and immune to life, so that no further booster is required,” said HSU.

He said the reason that the virus had not mutated over the years in contrast to the flu over the years. According to the CDC, measles became a serious disease in the United States in 1912, and the vaccine that is still used today, began to distribute the whole country in 1968.

“Some vaccines have to be administered annually because some of these viruses can mutate. But the measles virus was the same measles virus as for decades. And that didn't change, ”said HSU.

All in all, HSU said that if you have doubts about your vaccination status or immunity against the virus, go to your doctor because you can carry out a test to answer some of these questions.

“If you are not sure about your status, it is very important that you see your doctor because your doctor can order some laboratory tests to determine whether you had measles or are immune to measles. It is always a good idea to inquire with your doctor. But I can't emphasize enough that the most important predictor of your protection is to have received the measles vaccine, ”said HSU.