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Does measles vaccine protection 'wane very quickly'? Fact-checking RFK Jr.'s latest claim

Does measles vaccine protection 'wane very quickly'? Fact-checking RFK Jr.'s latest claim

TOI Lifestyle Desk / etimes.in / Updated: Apr 11, 2025, 18:21 IST

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Amid a severe measles outbreak, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is under fire for falsely claiming the measles vaccine's protection wanes quickly. Experts refute this, citing CDC data confirming lifelong immunity from the MMR vaccine. RFK Jr.

Does measles vaccine protection 'wane very quickly'? Fact-checking RFK Jr.'s latest claim

After urging Americans to get the measles vaccine amid a worsening outbreak in Texas, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has now claimed in a recent interview that the vaccine's protection 'wanes very quickly', the claim experts say is false and lacks scientific evidence.
In an interview with CBS News on Wednesday, the HHS Secretary said the Trump administration was committed to finding ways to treat people who do not wish to get vaccinated. The truth is there is no approved measles treatment apart from vaccines.

Over 505 cases were reported in West Texas on Tuesday. Measles outbreak started around late January and it has spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Mexico. Most of the people affected or dead in the current crisis were unvaccinated. Three people have died from measles-related illnesses this year, including two elementary school-aged children in Texas.

Poll

Should alternative treatments for measles be explored, despite current scientific consensus?

No, stick with vaccines.Yes, we need more options.

RFK Jr has faced criticism over suggesting unscientific and unconventional measles treatment amid the worst measles crisis in more than 30 years. These include Vitamin A supplementation, the use of steroid budesonide, the antibiotic clarithromycin, and cod liver oil. After RFK Jr's endorsement, several Texas hospitals had to treat children with vitamin A poisoning which caused abnormal liver function in them.

How long does measles vaccine protection really last?

According to the USA CDC, the best strategy to guard against measles is to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Children seeking additional protection from chickenpox too may get the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine instead.
As for protection, people vaccinated with MMR & MMRV will be protected for life, as per the CDC. Due to these vaccines, measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. This meant the absence of the continuous spread of the disease was more than 12 months.
According to the CDC, this was possible due to vaccination programmes in the United States, as well as better measles control in the Americas region.
RFK Jr's claim that vaccine protection wanes very quickly and his concern about finding alternative treatment lacks scientific evidence.

How does the measles vaccine provide protection?

The measles vaccine available in the US since 1963 has a live but significantly weakened strain of the measles virus, which is too weak to cause measles, but is enough to train the immune system to recognise it.

Do we need measles boosters?

People who have received the live measles vaccine typically do not need an additional shot. Those born before 1957 are generally considered to have lifelong immunity, as the disease was so widespread at the time that most would have been exposed before the age of 15. Meanwhile, the majority of people born after 1957 likely received the measles vaccine during childhood, providing long-lasting protection. As a result, experts usually do not recommend a second measles shot for most individuals in this group

People who may need boosters

People vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 may need an additional shot, as one of the measles vaccines used during that period contained only inactivated virus proteins, not the live, weakened virus. This version was less effective and did not provide long-term immunity.
People in high-risk groups including healthcare workers, international travelers, and college students may also be advised to get a second dose if they have only received one. Physicians and public health experts typically recommend this to ensure full protection.
In all, RFK Jr's claim that vaccine immunity wanes faster is not proven by science.

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