Which age groups are most vulnerable to catching measles?

Who are the people most at risk for getting the measles? Discover who can catch it and how to avoid it.

Measles is a highly infectious disease. In most countries, including Canada, the majority of children are vaccinated by the age of one. The measles vaccine is effective for life. However, vaccination is not mandatory, and as a result measles outbreaks occur from time to time.

Any unvaccinated person can catch measles, but there are varying degrees of severity. Some people are more fragile than others.

The first vaccine is administered at 12 months of age, so babies younger than 12 months are at risk. The infection can strike at the age of five months. Babies who catch measles are at a higher risk of experiencing complications such as otitis, pneumonia, seizures and encephalitis.

The measles vaccine is never given before the age of 12 months because mothers who've contracted the disease before transmit passive antibodies to their baby. These maternal antibodies protect the baby during the first year of life, and render the vaccine ineffective.

There is also a higher risk of severe complications in pregnant women whom are not vaccinated because their immune system is weaker. Furthermore, if she catches measles, there is an increased risk of miscarriage or premature birth. There is also the risk of exposing the fetus to birth defects.

For some, measles is a potentially serious disease which can lead to life-threatening complications. The chronically ill, especially people with auto-immune diseases or anyone undergoing chemotherapy, are at risk if they have not been vaccinated.

Some countries do not have a measles vaccination program. Therefore, anyone travelling in one of these areas is at risk if they are not already vaccinated. It is essential to ensure you are immunized before travelling. If you’re not certain whether you have already had the disease or been immunized, it’s better to err on the side of safety and get vaccinated anyway.

Children over five are the most susceptible to the disease if they have not been inoculated, but they are also less likely to develop any complications.

An unvaccinated adult over the age of 20 who contracts the disease is hit even harder than children, and has a high risk of severe complications.

The first thing to do is to make sure you’ve received the vaccine, or confirm you’ve had a previous infection, therefore protecting you for life. People born prior to 1970 are naturally immunized. Measles was widespread a few decades ago and the majority of the population contracted it during childhood.

If you don’t know if you’ve been vaccinated, talk to your doctor or get the vaccine as a precaution at a clinic. It's free. Most importantly, immunize your children.