Check Your Immunity to Measles

Submitted by kzachary on

Take this quiz to find out if you are considered immune to measles and to get guidance based on your responses. (Your responses are not recorded.)

This self-guided tool is for educational and information purposes only. It is not meant to replace medical advice from your health care provider. Your provider is your most trusted source of information about measles immunity. 

Get started:

I am checking measles immunity for:
Does the person have a compromised immune system due to a recent organ transplant, bone marrow transplant or chemotherapy? Or does the person have a medical condition such as HIV or leukemia?

This person is not considered immune to measles.

  • If you think you were exposed to measles, please contact your health care provider or local health department immediately. People with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for complications from measles.
  • Routine measles vaccination is not recommended for people with compromised immune systems.
Was the person born before 1957?
Does the person have a documented record of past measles disease?

This person is considered immune to measles.

A previous measles infection is considered to provide lifelong immunity. The person must have documentation of the infection (a confirmed positive test) for it to count toward immunity.

Does the person have record of a positive measles titer? A titer is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies in your blood to determine if you are immune to measles.

This person is considered immune to measles.

A positive measles titer indicates that a person either had measles or is vaccinated. In this case, their immune system is capable of protecting them from measles. The person must have documentation of the positive titer for it to count toward immunity.

Does the person have documentation showing they have gotten two doses of live measles-containing vaccine (such as MMR)?

This person is considered immune to measles.

Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles. The person must have documentation of the vaccinations for it to count toward immunity. This could be a state immunization record, patient medical record or vaccination card.

Does the person have documentation showing they have gotten one dose of live measles-containing vaccine (such as MMR)?

This person is not considered immune to measles.

  • If you think you were exposed to measles, please contact your health care provider or local health department immediately.
  • To become immune to measles, ask your health care provider about vaccination.Most people ages 12 months and older should get at least one dose of MMR.
Does the person work in a health care setting?

If exposed to measles, a second measles vaccine will be needed to return to work.

Health care workers are at high-risk for exposure to measles and should get two doses of MMR at least 28 days apart. You may be considered immune with one dose but should talk to your health care provider about a second dose or measles titer to prove immunity.

Does the person currently attend high school, college or other post-secondary educational programs?

This person is not considered immune to measles.

  • If you think you were exposed to measles, please contact your health care provider or local health department immediately.
  • To become immune to measles, ask your health care provider about getting a second dose of MMR vaccine. People in high-risk settings, like educational settings, should get two doses of MMR vaccine to be considered immune to measles.

This person is considered immune to measles.

Does the person work in a health care setting?

This person is considered immune to measles.

  • Measles was widespread before the introduction of vaccine in 1963. This means people born before 1957 likely had measles during their lifetime. Someone who has had measles is considered to have natural, lifelong immunity.
  • If measles is circulating in the community: Consider one dose of MMR vaccine if you don’t have a positive measles titer. A titer is a blood test to see if you are already immune to measles.
Does the person have documentation showing they have gotten two doses of live measles-containing vaccine (such as MMR)?

This person is considered immune to measles.

Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles. The person must have documentation of the vaccinations for it to count toward immunity. This could be a state immunization record, patient medical record or vaccination card.

Does the person have documentation showing they have gotten one dose of live measles-containing vaccine (such as MMR)?

If exposed to measles, a second measles vaccine will be needed to return to work.

Health care workers are at high-risk for exposure to measles and should get two doses of MMR at least 28 days apart. You may be considered immune with one dose but should talk to your health care provider about a second dose or measles titer to prove immunity.

Does the person have record of a positive measles titer? A titer is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies in your blood to determine if you are immune to measles.

This person is considered immune to measles.

A positive measles titer indicates that a person either had measles or is vaccinated. In this case, their immune system is capable of protecting them from measles. The person must have documentation of the positive titer for it to count toward immunity.

This person is not considered immune to measles.

Health care workers are at high-risk for exposure to measles. Due to this risk, health care workers born before 1957 with no evidence of vaccination or immunity should get two doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart.

Does the child have a compromised immune system due to a recent organ transplant, bone marrow transplant or chemotherapy? Or does the child have a medical condition such as HIV or leukemia?

This person is not considered immune to measles.

  • If you think the child was exposed to measles, please contact the child’s health care provider or local health department immediately. People with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for complications from measles.
  • Routine measles vaccination is not recommended for people with compromised immune systems.
Is the child primary school aged (K-12)?
Does the child have documentation of past measles disease?

This person is considered immune to measles. 

A previous measles infection is considered to provide lifelong immunity. The person must have documentation of the infection (a confirmed positive test) for it to count toward immunity.

Does the child have record of a positive measles titer? A titer is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies in your blood to determine if you are immune to measles.

This person is considered immune to measles. 

A positive measles titer indicates that a person either had measles or is vaccinated. In this case, their immune system is capable of protecting them from measles. The person must have documentation of the positive titer for it to count toward immunity.

Does the child have documentation showing they have gotten two doses of live measles-containing vaccine (such as MMR)?

This person is considered immune to measles. 

Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles. The person must have documentation of the vaccinations for it to count toward immunity. This could be a state immunization record, patient medical record or vaccination card.

This person is not considered immune to measles.

  • If you think the child was exposed to measles, please contact the child’s health care provider or local health department immediately.
  • If you wish for your child to become immune to measles, please speak to your child’s health care provider about vaccination. School-aged children (grades K-12) should get two doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart.
Is the child preschool-aged (1 year old through kindergarten entry)?
Does the child have record of past measles disease?

This person is considered immune to measles. 

A previous measles infection is considered to provide lifelong immunity. The person must have documentation of the infection (a confirmed positive test) for it to count toward immunity.

Does the child have record of a positive measles titer? A titer is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies in your blood to determine if you are immune to measles.

This person is considered immune to measles. 

A positive measles titer indicates that a person either had measles or is vaccinated. In this case, their immune system is capable of protecting them from measles. The person must have documentation of the positive titer for it to count toward immunity.

Does the child have documented vaccination history of getting one dose of MMR?

This person is considered immune to measles. 

  • This child is up to date with the current MMR vaccine recommendations. Talk to your child’s health care provider about your child getting a second dose of MMR before starting kindergarten. This follows the routine vaccination schedule.
  • Planning international travel or travel to an area where measles is actively spreading? Talk to your child’s health care provider about your child getting an early second dose of MMR at least two weeks before your departure.
  • If measles is actively circulating in your community, talk to your child’s health care provider about getting an early second dose of MMR.
  • If you think your child was exposed to measles, please contact your child’s health care provider or local health department immediately.

This person is not considered immune to measles. 

  • If you think your child was exposed to measles, please contact your child’s health care provider or local health department immediately.
  • To become immune, speak to your child’s health care provider about vaccination. Children 12 months and older should get one dose of MMR followed by a second dose at 4 to 6 years old (before kindergarten entry). There should be at least 28 days between the first and second dose.
  • Planning international travel or traveling to an area where measles is actively spreading? Children 12 months and older should get two doses of MMR, at least 28 days apart, before departure. It’s best to get vaccinated two weeks before departure).
Is the child between the ages of 6 months to 1 year old?
Does the child have documented vaccination history of receiving one dose of MMR before the age of 1?

This person is considered immune to measles. 

To maintain immunity, talk to your child’s health care provider about additional doses of MMR vaccine after their first birthday. Children who had a dose of MMR before their first birthday should get two additional doses, at least 28 days apart, after their first birthday. This maintains lifelong measles immunity.

Does the child have record of past measles disease?

This person is considered immune to measles. 

A previous measles infection is considered to provide lifelong immunity. The person must have documentation of the infection (a confirmed positive test) for it to count toward immunity.

Does the child have record of a positive measles titer? A titer is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies in your blood to determine if you are immune to measles.

This person is considered immune to measles. 

A positive measles titer indicates that a person either had measles or is vaccinated. In this case, their immune system is capable of protecting them from measles. The person must have documentation of the positive titer for it to count toward immunity.

This person is not considered immune to measles. 

  • If you think the child was exposed to measles, please call the child’s health care provider or local health department immediately.
  • Children 6 months to 1 year are not routinely recommended to get a dose of MMR. But if measles is circulating in the community, talk to your child’s health care provider about getting a dose of MMR early.
  • Planning international travel or traveling to an area where measles is actively spreading? Talk to your child’s health care provider about getting one dose of MMR before departure. It‘s best to get vaccinated two weeks before departure.
Does the child have record of past measles disease?

This person is considered immune to measles. 

A previous measles infection is considered to provide lifelong immunity. The person must have documentation of the infection (a confirmed positive test) for it to count toward immunity.

Does the child have record of a positive measles titer? A titer is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies in your blood to determine if you are immune to measles.

This person is considered immune to measles. 

A positive measles titer indicates that a person either had measles or is vaccinated. In this case, their immune system is capable of protecting them from measles. The person must have documentation of the positive titer for it to count toward immunity.

This person is not considered immune to measles. 

  • If you think you were exposed to measles, please contact your health care provider or local health department immediately.
  • It is not recommended for children younger than 6 months of age to get the MMR vaccine. Talk to your child’s health care provider about routine measles vaccination at 12 months of age.
  • Planning international travel or live in an area where measles is actively spreading? Talk to your child’s health care provider about getting a dose of MMR early, once your child has reached 6 months of age.