Should Babies Get a ‘Bonus’ Measles Vaccine? Doctors Say It Depends
Up for Debate
Like many anxious parents, Beth Spektor spent the last few weeks fretting over how to protect her infant daughter from the first deadly measles outbreak to hit the U.S. in a decade. Her 9-month-old was too young for the first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, typically given to American toddlers shortly after their first birthday. But when her New Jersey mommy WhatsApp group started buzzing about an early bonus dose of MMR for babies, Spektor decided to ask her pediatrician for one anyway.
Doctor’s Dilemma
Instead, the doctor urged her to take the extra jab, a move they recommended to all infant patients after three linked cases were reported in their region. “I was assuming she would say, ‘It’s up to you,’ or ‘It’s not a bad idea,’ something a little less definitive,” the mother said. “She said she was hoping that [U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] would change the schedule to recommend that all babies over 6 months get the bonus dose,” Spektor said.
Expert Opinions Vary
That’s unlikely, experts say. Despite the current outbreak, measles is still rare in the U.S., and while MMR is safe for babies as young as 6 months, it’s more effective in toddlers. Most pediatricians still recommend holding off until a child’s first birthday, with few narrow exceptions.
Tough Call for Moms and Dads
Yet even as record numbers of parents now delay or decline inoculation, pediatricians and public health experts said they’ve seen a surge in requests for bonus doses following the death of an unvaccinated six-year-old in West Texas last week. When reports of an infected Orange County infant carrying measles through Los Angeles International Airport began to circulate Friday, that curiosity turned to panic in some households.
What Do the Experts Say?
Dr. Priya R. Soni of Cedars Sinai Medical Center, an assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases, noted that there has been a noticeable increase in parental concern about measles, particularly among those who plan to travel with young children or who have infants in daycare. “Some parents are requesting early MMR vaccination, which is an appropriate strategy in certain high-risk situations,” she said.
Exceptions to the Rule
So-called “zero” or “supplemental” doses of MMR have long been recommended to jet-setting infants who will travel to countries such as Ireland, Sri Lanka, or the Philippines before their first birthday. While most people survive a measles infection, the disease kills more than 100,000 children every year worldwide, leaves an additional 60,000 children blind, and thousands more with permanent brain damage.
Benefits and Risks
The grave risks are why early shots are also given to babies living near domestic outbreaks. The Texas Department of Public Health is currently recommending bonus doses for infants in six counties, including Gaines, where the largest outbreak emerged. Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency medicine doctor at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., who helps explain infectious disease to her 2.3 million followers on TikTok, got her own daughter a bonus dose before a visit to New York during a measles outbreak there in 2018. But she said most parents should forego it unless their babies are headed to a high-risk country or live in an outbreak region.
Conclusion
The decision to give a “bonus” dose of the MMR vaccine to babies is a complex one, and doctors and public health experts agree that it depends on various factors, including the baby’s age, travel plans, and the risk of exposure to measles. While some argue that the vaccine is safe for babies as young as 6 months, others recommend holding off until a child’s first birthday, when the vaccine is more effective.
FAQs
Q: Is the measles vaccine safe for babies?
A: Yes, the MMR vaccine is safe for babies as young as 6 months.
Q: Should I get a “bonus” dose of the MMR vaccine for my baby?
A: It depends on your baby’s age, travel plans, and the risk of exposure to measles. Consult with your pediatrician for personalized advice.
Q: What are the risks of not getting the MMR vaccine?
A: Measles is a serious disease that can cause severe illness, including death, and can also lead to long-term health complications, such as blindness and brain damage.
Q: What can I do to protect my baby from measles?
A: The best way to protect your baby from measles is to get vaccinated yourself and to make sure those around you are also vaccinated. This will help create herd immunity and protect your baby from the disease.
