To help clarify recommendations for adult measles, mumps, & rubella (MMR) vaccination and assessing immunity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new “Dear Provider” letter to address the following important points in more detail:
- Providers do not need to actively screen adult patients for measles immunity. This is because of high population immunity and low risk of disease among adults in non-outbreak areas in the U.S.
- Providers should make sure patients have measles protection before international travel. U.S. residents traveling internationally are at high risk for acquiring measles abroad. They can also transmit measles to susceptible persons, such as infants, when they return home.
- If a patient is traveling internationally and measles immunity is unknown, providers should vaccinate, unless there are contraindications. Serologic testing for measles immunity is not recommended.
- During outbreaks, providers should consult with local health departments for the most up-to-date recommendations for their community. This may include additional doses of MMR for your patients.
View the letter (clicking the link will load the letter in your browser downloads) and find additional information at cdc.gov/measles/hcp.
