I Had Measles Despite Being Vaccinated. Here’s How That Happened

When I was 10 years old, I was diagnosed with the measles. It had been going around my school, and my number came up. It was a rough two weeks, characterized by very high fever (in the 104-105 range), watching TV while wearing sunglasses (I'd been advised to not watch it at all), and barely eating anything.

A Childhood Case of Measles Despite an Early Vaccination

What's odd is that I had had the vaccination when I was nine months old, but my pediatrician told Mom that I was likely too young for the vaccine to provide lasting protection. The Centers for Disease Control backs that up; they say that 95% of children who are vaccinated at 12 months develop measles antibodies.

Suspected Measles Outbreak in Christian County

This unpleasant stretch of my young life re-entered my memory banks when I learned of a suspected measles outbreak in Christian County. According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, an individual who hadn't been vaccinated for the measles was diagnosed with the contagious infection and may have come in contact with a large number of people. Officials believe that this individual caught it from an out-of-state visitor.

The CHFS is currently reporting five measles cases in Kentucky, with four of them being in Jessamine County, near Lexington.

What Are the Symptoms of Measles?

When I had the measles, I checked all the symptomatic boxes...high fever, runny nose, red eyes, and coughing. At its onset, I developed a rash inside my mouth. Those are known as Koplik spots, which can appear before the more familiar measles rash. I don't exactly remember why Mom thought I might have the measles, leading her to check inside my mouth, but she was a registered nurse; it came with the territory. The CHFS and CDC say the characteristic measles rash typically appears several days after the first symptoms, beginning on the face before spreading down the rest of the body.

In light of the new case, Kentucky health officials are encouraging residents to check their vaccination status and make sure they and their children are up to date on the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.