Do I need a measles booster if I was born in SC in the 1950s or 1960s?
Do you know if you’re sufficiently vaccinated for measles?
The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed the state’s first case of measles in 2025 on Wednesday. The infected individual, who lives in the Upstate, is unvaccinated and did not have immunity from a previous infection, DPH says.
The announcement is the latest in a surge of measles cases across the U.S. this year. As of July 1, a total of 1,267 confirmed cases of measles were reported by 38 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. There have been 27 measles outbreaks reported in 2025 so far — a disease once thought all but eradicated in the U.S.
Most people are vaccinated against measles when they are children these days. But what about people born in the 1950s and 1960s, who may or may not have received an older, outdated version of the vaccine? Do they need some sort of booster or should they get another full vaccination?
Here’s what to know.
What is measles?
According to the DPH, measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Symptoms include fever, cough and runny nose, followed by a rash that lasts five to six days. Severe complications with measles can occur, including pneumonia, brain swelling and even death.
Complications from the virus can occur in as many as three to 10 cases, often in children under 5 years old, adults over 20 years old, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
History of measles vaccine
The measles vaccine first became available in 1963. However, in 1968, a better vaccine was produced. Before the vaccine was invented, nearly every child got measles by the time they were 15 years old, the CDC states.
The combination measles vaccine called MMR, or measles, mumps and rubella, first hit the scene in 1971. And the MMRV vaccine, which also protects against chickenpox, started in 2005.
The vaccine is 97% effective after 2 doses, but that leaves 3% who may not have made antibodies to the vaccine who can get measles.
What if you were born before 1957?
Americans who were born before 1957 are assumed to have had measles when they were small children and as such, developed a lifelong immunity and do not need a vaccination, according to Yale Medicine.
However, if you were born before 1957 and don’t have proof of immunity, you should ask your doctor. A simple blood test can confirm whether you have immunity.
For people who are not sure of immunity or vaccination status, it is safe to get a measles vaccine.
What if you were born in the 1960s?
People who were vaccinated between 1963 and 1968 may have received the inferior version of the measles vaccine and could be at risk.
“During that period, some children received an inactivated measles vaccine that was less effective than the live vaccine,” Yale Medicine states. “If you know that you got the inactivated vaccine and not the live one or aren’t sure, you should get at least one dose of the live MMR vaccine, according to the CDC.”
Again, you can ask your doctor for a recommendation on if you need an additional shot.
How do I know if I’m vaccinated?
People who get immunizations from South Carolina providers can access their immunization records through the SIMON public portal. As of Jan. 1, 2017, all immunization providers must report all administered doses of vaccines to the state immunization registry.
Doses administered prior to 2017 may not be recorded in the registry. If you have questions regarding your immunizations, please reach out to your primary health care provider or the provider that administered the vaccines.
This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 11:12 AM.
