As a parent or grandparent, can you get measles from infected children or transfer it to children? My husband (79) does not know if he has had the disease.
Anonymously
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
Who the the measles can no longer contract the disease or transmit it: the immunity is complete and lifelong. The chance that your husband has never had measles is nil, because the virus is extremely contagious. Before the introduction of the vaccines, everyone got it, so the medical guidelines assume that anyone born before 1965 is immune. Vaccination with the MMR vaccine (mumps, measles and rubella) gives a protection of 95 percent with one shot and 99 percent with two shots. Currently, 95 percent of the post-1965 population has had at least one shot. I hope your grandkids aren’t in the other 5 percent, because measles is known to be one of the worst childhood illnesses.
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