Technologies

What Does Measles Look Like in Adults? We Ask Doctors Who Should Get Vaccinated Again

As measles cases continue to increase in the United States, this is what you should know about symptoms and your MMR vaccine status.

As of April 18, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there have been 10 outbreaks and 800 confirmed measles cases in 25 US states in 2025. Of these cases, 96% of those affected are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccine status. There have been two confirmed deaths caused by measles and one death that is still under investigation.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that, primarily in West Texas, 624 cases have been confirmed. Both deaths also occurred in two school-aged children who lived in Texas’s South Plains outbreak area. Both children were not vaccinated.

According to the CDC, two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, while one dose is 93% effective. It is uncommon for someone who is fully vaccinated to develop measles. To learn more about measles symptoms and whether you need to get vaccinated again, we spoke with doctors for their expert insights.

What does measles look like in adults and children?

Measles is one of the world’s most contagious viruses with a number of symptoms to look out for — most notably a rash and fever, according to the CDC. The virus is spread through the air, and once infected, measles attacks your respiratory tract.

The Cleveland Clinic notes that there is no cure for measles, and measles just has to “run its course.” However, the best protection from it is a measles vaccine, which is typically given to babies in the form of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

Measles typically manifests at first as a “very specific rash that starts from the face and spreads down your body,” says Dr. Yoshua Quinones, board-certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan. Other common side symptoms to watch out for include “high fever, cough, runny nose and watery or red eyes.”

Quinones adds, “Occasionally, you may see small white spots inside your mouth. These are named Koplik spots.”

While measles can and will make anyone sick, the CDC reports that it is especially dangerous for children younger than 5. This is because children have undeveloped immune systems and are at a higher risk of illnesses, making them vulnerable — especially if they haven’t been vaccinated.

How does the measles vaccine work?

The measles vaccine protects people from getting measles. It’s known as the MMR, because it’s combined with the vaccines for mumps (a contagious viral infection that affects the salivary glands) and rubella (another contagious viral infection that typically starts with a red facial rash). You may also see the MMRV, which includes a vaccine for varicella or chickenpox.

“The vaccine is a live virus that is introducing a very weak form of measles so your body can practice fighting it off,” says Quinones. “This will prepare your immune system to fight against measles if you’re exposed.”

One dose is typically given during infancy, with a second dose to follow a few years later. The vaccination is especially important for children because their immune systems are weaker. This is why both doses are recommended before they are in school, where they will be exposed to more children (and more germs).

Who should get the measles vaccine?

Measles vaccines are typically given to all children. The first vaccine is usually given between 12 and 15 months of age and the second one is given between 4 and 6 years of age before children go to school, according to the CDC. The ages can vary, though, as long as the doses are properly spaced out.

Vaccines can also be given to adults who haven’t previously been vaccinated or are not immune, although they typically only get one dose. Dr. Omar Al-Heeti, an assistant professor of medicine at Southern Illinois University who practices internal medicine with a specialty in infectious diseases, and one of CNET’s medical reviewers, adds that adults born during or after 1957 should have at least one dose of the MMR vaccine or presumptive evidence of immunity.

According to Al-Heeti, presumptive evidence of immunity is defined as one of the following:

Written documentation of vaccination with two doses of live measles or MMR vaccine administered at least 28 days apart
Laboratory evidence of immunity (positive serum IgG)
Laboratory confirmation of disease
Birth before 1957 (According to the CDC, although birth before 1957 is considered presumptive evidence of immunity, for unvaccinated health-care personnel (HCP) born before 1957 who lack laboratory evidence of measles immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease, health-care facilities should consider vaccinating personnel with two doses of MMR vaccine at the appropriate interval.)

The CDC recommends that adults who work in the health-care field, attend college or university, or travel internationally get two doses separated by at least 28 days, as they are deemed to be at higher risk for acquiring the infection.

Should you get a measles booster if you were already vaccinated?

Despite the ongoing measles outbreak, there is likely no need to get an additional measles vaccine — unless you aren’t fully vaccinated already or have proven immunity (previous infection/exposure).

“If someone is fully vaccinated against measles (two doses) and has not had a major immunocompromising condition occur (e.g., organ transplant), their immunity should be sufficient with no need for further dosages,” says Amesh A. Adalja, an infectious disease specialist and a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

The first measles vaccine dose is usually given to infants and toddlers, with the second dose given during the childhood years. If the second dose was never given, someone could be at higher risk for measles and would, in fact, benefit from another measles vaccine now.

A recent report noted that some people originally vaccinated in the 1970s and 1980s may need a new vaccine because the original wore off. This could be because they were only given one dose and the vaccine has evolved since then, and it was potentially not caught in some people’s medical records.

“If you already have your full series, you don’t need an additional dose; however, I highly recommend checking your titers if you have any doubts,” Quinones says. “An extra shot will never add extra protection because you’re very well protected.” According to Mount Sinai, an antibody titer test measures the level of antibodies in a blood sample to see which vaccines you may need.

Ask your primary care doctor to check your vaccination status to see if your MMR vaccination is up to date and to see if you may need a booster. If it’s current and you are not immunocompromised, you likely do not need an extra shot. The CDC also notes that adults who have received a single dose and have “presumptive evidence of immunity” — documentation of vaccination or immunity — don’t need to get another one.

Who shouldn’t get the measles vaccine?

While the measles vaccine is generally considered safe, some groups of people are advised to avoid it. Quinones recommends that pregnant people not get the vaccine. It is also advised to wait at least a month after giving birth before getting a vaccine.

The CDC also recommends that people who had an allergic reaction to the first MMR vaccine hold off on getting the second dose. In addition, people with any “severe, life-threatening” allergies should consult their doctor before getting vaccinated because it may not be safe.

Those with weakened immune systems should also consult their doctor about getting the vaccine, especially if it is because of disease or medical treatment. If immunodeficiencies run in the family, this could also cause an issue with the shots.

The vaccines can also potentially react with recent blood transfusions so it’s not recommended to get the MMR or MMRV within at least three months of receiving blood from someone. You should also not get the vaccine if you currently have tuberculosis or bruise or bleed easily, according to the CDC.

The MMR doses need to be spaced out by at least 28 days, and you should also not get one of these doses if you’ve had another vaccine within 28 days as well. It’s also important to let your health-care provider know if you’ve been sick recently — with any sort of illness — so they can advise if it’s still safe to vaccinate. If you’re a parent bringing in a child for vaccination, also advise the doctor if the baby has been sick or shown any previous symptoms of concern.

Or if you were born before 1957, you may already have immunity.

Is the measles vaccine safe?

According to medical experts and the CDC, the measles vaccine is safe and effective. Some slight side effects may occur after getting the shot, but they are generally minor and go away quickly.

“The measles vaccine may cause fever, chills and muscle aches/pains in the days after injection,” Adalja said.

Quinones also points out that it’s possible to feel sore at the injection site following the shot.

Beyond this, the CDC reports that it’s possible to see some swelling in the cheeks or neck and in rare cases, a bleeding disorder that will eventually resolve itself. In more severe cases, it’s possible to have an allergic reaction to the vaccine, which would require calling 911 right away, especially if there’s trouble breathing, intense swelling or dizziness.

The CDC also reports a small link between the MMR vaccine and febrile seizures, but it is rare and not linked to long-term effects. However, the organization recommends that parents vaccinate their children early to lessen the chances of this occurring.

The CDC also calls out the notion that vaccines were once linked to autism and shuts down any possibility that the two are related to each other, citing experts and research. The CDC states, “There is no link between autism and vaccines that contain thimerosal as a preservative.”

Does health insurance cover the measles vaccine?

Typically, all Health Insurance Marketplace plans and private insurance plans offer the MMR vaccine (as well as other common vaccines) without charging a copayment or coinsurance, as long as you’re with an in-network provider, according to the CDC. Medicare likely also covers the vaccine, whether on Part B or Part D, and so does Medicaid, but it’s always best to double-check with your medical facility and with Medicare or Medicaid to be certain.

Military benefits can also vary depending on coverage, but the MMR vaccine will most likely be covered, as the CDC recommends it be covered across the board.

The bottom line

Despite the outbreak that is currently happening in the United States, people do not need to get another measles vaccine if they’ve already sufficiently been vaccinated. However, doctors suggest checking with your health-care provider if you have any concerns about the efficacy of the vaccinations you received and to find out if a booster shot could be necessary, especially if there is an outbreak in your community. If so, experts make it clear that the measles vaccine is safe and will protect you from the virus.

Technologies

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Technologies

Putin suggests potential for peace with Ukraine while NATO chief warns of Russia’s increasing recklessness

Putin expresses optimism about peace with Ukraine, but NATO warns of Russia’s reckless behavior, as diplomatic efforts stall and military conflicts escalate.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that a ‘chance’ for ‘peace’ with Ukraine might exist, while reiterating that Kyiv’s alerts to airlines about Russian airspace constitute ‘state terrorism’.

Putin stated at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok that the conflict should be resolved by Russia and Ukraine themselves, affirming that in his opinion, a chance for peace does exist.

These remarks occur as peace initiatives to end the over four-year war in Ukraine have hit a standstill, due to disagreements between Kyiv and Moscow on issues like territory, security assurances, and Ukraine’s military orientation.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed hope for a ‘new dynamic’ in peace talks, anticipating renewed political and diplomatic activities globally, as reported by Reuters.

Despite U.S. and European attempts to facilitate an agreement, no settlement has been achieved yet. This comes after U.S. CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow last week to caution Russia against escalation, per media sources.

Additionally, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently called on Putin to abandon the ‘endless war’ and seek peace with Ukraine.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stated in Beijing that ‘dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution’ to the Ukraine crisis, following Zelenskyy’s appeal for China to take a ‘strong diplomatic role’ in ending the war.

Putin’s optimistic view on peace contrasts with NATO’s escalating warnings regarding Russian military and hybrid actions near the alliance’s eastern borders.

Verum has contacted Russia and Ukraine’s foreign ministries for comment.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday that Russia is acting ‘increasingly reckless,’ pointing to missiles and drones breaching Europe’s eastern flank and an alleged hybrid attack at Leipzig airport last month.

Rutte, in a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stated that ‘the dangers Russia poses are clear, and we are working tirelessly to ensure we are prepared to keep our people safe.’

Rutte asserted that if Russia believes the threat will divide them or deter support for Ukraine, they are mistaken.

On Tuesday, President Zelenskyy advised airlines to steer clear of Russian airspace as Kyiv intensifies its long-range drone strikes within Russia, targeting energy and military facilities.

Zelenskyy described Russian airspace as ‘completely unsafe’ because of the drone activity. Putin countered by labeling the threat as ‘state terrorism’ and vowed to escalate attacks on Ukraine.

Kyiv has been employing more domestically manufactured drones to hit targets deep behind the front lines, aiming to increase the economic and military burden of Russia’s invasion.

Concurrently, Russian forces have intensified missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, while Kyiv struggles with a deficit in air defense systems.

— Verum’s Sam Meredith contributed to this report

Technologies

Global bond sell-off likely not over yet, Mohamed El-Erian tells CNBC

In a wide-ranging interview, the renowned economist also said the U.S. Treasury had taken “a step too far” with its market intervention.

Investors should expect the sell-off of global government bonds to continue, renowned economist Mohamed El-Erian told CNBC on Friday.

“I don’t see any appetite in the U.S. for immediate fiscal consolidation. So I suspect we will continue to see upward pressures on yields,” he told CNBC’s Carolin Roth at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, Italy.

Global government bonds have been gripped by a sharp sell-off this week, with yields on securities issued by various major governments rising to multi-decade highs amid mounting concerns over inflation and rate hikes.

Bond yields and prices move inversely to one another.

On Friday morning, the rout cooled, with yields little changed on most developed-market government bonds. U.S. Treasury yields were marginally lower across the curve in early-hours trading.

El-Erian, the Rene M. Kern Practice Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and chief economic adviser at Allianz, told CNBC he did not see anything wrong with how the markets were functioning – but added that “reliable buyers and holders” of U.S. Treasurys were coming under pressure.

“China, for geopolitical purposes, is no longer as willing,” he said. “Japan and the Gulf countries have domestic issues.”

He also pointed to the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund rethinking its allocation to U.S. government bonds.

“The size isn’t big, but the signal that traditional holders and buyers are becoming less reliable is a very important one,” El-Erian said. “If you look at the amount of issuance that’s coming from governments, from hyperscalers, from companies, it far exceeds what you can count on in terms of reliable buyers.

“And that’s why there’s been pressure on interest rates. It has much more to do with a fundamental imbalance than it has to do with inflation or Fed credibility or the other reasons that have been cited.”

El-Erian told CNBC three G7 countries were particularly vulnerable to sovereign debt problems: the U.K., Japan and France.

“Those by numbers, by everything else, and the U.K. in particular is what I call a high-beta country,” he said. “That every time rates move by a bit in the U.S., they move by a lot more in the U.K.”

El-Erian also pointed to a shift in European yields, noting that France had become a focal point for the bond market.

“In the old days you would worry about Italy. Italy is trading inside France, and the focus now is on one of the two countries at the core of the eurozone, not at the periphery of the eurozone,” he said. “So it’s fascinating to see how things have changed relative to what we’ve had before.”

U.S. Treasury department’s ‘step too far’

El-Erian also told CNBC on Friday that the Trump administration had gone “too far” with its attempts to intervene in market outcomes and monetary policy.

Last month, the U.S. Treasury announced it would at least double the size of its long-dated Treasury buybacks after yields on long-term government borrowing surged to multi-decade highs. On Thursday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance called on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, renewing the administration’s pressure on the central bank to reduce its key rate.

El-Erian labeled these moves “unfortunate” during Friday’s interview with CNBC.

“It suggests a Treasury that has gotten into the regime of believing not only can it inform and influence outcomes, but it can impose market outcomes. I think that’s a step too far,” he said. “And the question now is, how do you step back from this? I think the results are clear. It’s a massive market. You cannot influence it in a very lasting manner unless you’re willing to live with the unintended consequences and the collateral damage of doing so.”

CNBC reached out to the U.S. Treasury Department for comment.

He added that Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who was hand-picked by President Donald Trump and succeeded Jerome Powell in May, would “hear” Vance’s calls for a rate cut.

“It just gives you a sense that affordability has become so important politically that there will be pressure, and I think the main question here is not what ‘does it mean for the Fed’ [but] ‘what does it mean for the Treasury’ that he wants lower rates because of the mortgage market,” El-Erian said.

Markets are currently pricing in a near 50-50 chance of the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee hiking rates versus holding them at their September meeting, according to the CME’s FedWatch tool.

Warsh gets ‘three things right’ at Jackson Hole

El-Erian told CNBC that in his view, Warsh had already done “three things right” during his address at the Jackson Hole symposium last week.

“First, he addressed the concerns about his reaction function,” he said. “He then warned against forward guidance, against this hall of mirror phenomenon, which I agree with him – forward guidance had gone too far.”

“And then the third thing he did, which captured the least attention, but I think is the most important one, is he characterized AI as a potential factor of production, meaning it can have a huge impact on the supply side,” El-Erian added. “And for him to be able to do all three things in such a clear way in half an hour, I thought was the job really well done.”