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Public health officials are advising parents in Texas communities hard hit by the measles outbreak to vaccinate their children ahead of schedule, as early as 6 months of age.
But what about children in other parts of the country? Should they adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation of a first shot at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years of age for the second?
Pediatricians’ offices are being flooded with calls from parents concerned about the risk that the highly contagious virus poses to their young children, especially after the death of an unvaccinated 6-year-old child in Texas and an unvaccinated person in New Mexico.
While more than 200 of the 300-plus cases of measles this year have occurred in Texas and New Mexico, cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
The CDC says the risk for widespread measles outbreaks across the U.S. remains low due to high vaccination rates against the disease.
But parents who have concerns should definitely consult with health care providers, especially if they are traveling to areas where measles is present, says Neil Maniar, director of Northeastern’s master of public health program.
“It’s something for us to think about, especially with spring break and travel,” says Carla Bouwmeester, a Northeastern clinical professor of pharmacy and health systems sciences.
Measles “is an extremely contagious disease” that can be spread four days before the telltale rash appears and four days after the rash resolves, she says.
Measles virus particles “can live in the air for up to two hours,” another factor that allows one person with measles to spread it to 10 to 18 people, Maniar says.
The viral illness was virtually eradicated from the U.S. 25 years ago, he says.
But dipping vaccination rates have led to an increase in cases, with the most recent reports of 301 in the first quarter of 2025 surpassing 2024’s total of 284 measles cases.
“The foremost concern is that we will see even more outbreaks of measles,” Maniar says.
Since many cases are connected with international travel, the CDC recommends infants who are traveling internationally get their first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine early, at 6 months of age, at least two weeks before departure.
A single dose provides 93% protection against measles while the second dose increases the protection to 97%, Maniar says.
The CDC also says that children who receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine between 6 and 11 months, should still adhere to the recommended schedule of additional shots at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years of age.
“They’ll still need the regular course,” Maniar says.
The MMR vaccine is not recommended for children less than 6 months of age, Bouwmeester says.
She says the shot combined with the chickenpox vaccine — the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella or MMRV vaccine — should only be given to children who are at least 12 months of age.
“The foremost concern is that we will see even more outbreaks of measles,” he says.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics says thorough hand washing, sterilizing household objects, breastfeeding infants and reducing babies’ exposure to crowds can help prevent children too young to be vaccinated from getting measles.
Some babies may have protection from antibodies passed through pregnancy, says the AAP, which also recommends against traveling with children younger than 6 months to areas with measles.
Maniar says communities need to reach 95% percent herd immunization rates to protect the 5% of the population who are too young to be vaccinated, are immunocompromised or unable to take up the antibodies.
The measles vaccination rate in Gaines County, Texas, where the 6-year-old child died after contracting the viral illness, is reportedly 82%.
“We should not, in this day and age where we have a highly effective vaccine, see outbreaks like this,” Maniar says.