Measles FAQ

• Pregnant women should not receive the MMR vaccine.
• The MMR vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, which means it contains weakened versions of the measles, mumps, and rubella viruses.
• While it’s generally safe for most people, live vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy because of a theoretical risk they could affect the fetus—even though this has not been proven to happen in practice.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises women to wait at least 4 weeks after receiving the MMR vaccine before becoming pregnant.
• If a woman receives the MMR vaccine and later learns she was pregnant at the time, the CDC does not recommend any intervention, as no harm has been shown in such cases—but vaccination should still be avoided during known pregnancy.
• Women who are not immune should receive the MMR vaccine after giving birth, before leaving the hospital or during a postpartum visit.

Vitamin A cannot prevent measles. Vitamin A may be useful as a supplemental treatment once someone has a measles infection, especially if they have a severe case of measles or low vitamin A levels and are under the care of a doctor.

Most people get enough vitamin A in their diet from foods like carrots, bell peppers, fish, broccoli, yogurt, and chicken. However, some people may need a supplement. Because vitamin A builds up in the body over time, there is a risk of vitamin toxicity with taking too much supplemental vitamin A. For example, during pregnancy, vitamin A toxicity can cause birth defects, so it is important to talk to your doctor before taking additional vitamin A.

Relying on vitamin A instead of vaccination to prevent measles is not effective and puts individuals and communities at risk of infection, complications, and disease spread.

Immunization records recorded in the Illinois immunization registry can be accessed using the Illinois Department of Public Health Vax Verify portal .

• Contact your healthcare provider immediately. CALL before arriving
• Receiving the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure may prevent the disease.
• Alternatively, immune globulin can be administered within six days of exposure for certain individuals.

Early symptoms (first few days)

• Moderate fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red eyes
• Sore throat

Later symptoms (after a few days)

• Blue-white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
• Red-brown rash that starts at the hairline and spreads down the body
• High fever (can go over 104°F)

The rash usually appears 14 days after exposure. Some immunocompromised people may not develop the rash.

• Isolate and avoid contact with:
  • Infants
  • Pregnant women
  • People with weak immune systems
• If you are not immune, your doctor may recommend:
  • The MMR vaccine or
  • A medicine called immune globulin to reduce risk.
• If you do not get the vaccine, avoid places with high-risk people (schools, hospitals, child care centers) until your health care provider says it’s safe.

Have someone call the ER to let them know a person with measles so they can prepare so you or your child don’t expose others.

• A hard time breathing or breathing faster than normal
• Signs of severe dehydration (dry nose and mouth, urinating less than usual)
• Confusion, decreased alertness, or severe weakness
• For young children: a blue color around the mouth, crying without making tears, unusually low energy, or severe loss of appetite

• Measles can cause severe complications and death, even in otherwise healthy people.
• You can’t predict how severe the symptoms will be.
• Exposing kids on purpose puts others at risk—especially the unvaccinated and people with weakened immune systems.
• Vaccination is the safest way to protect children against measles.

Numerous scientific studies over many years have shown there is no connection between autism and the MMR vaccine, confirming its safety and encouraging public confidence in immunization. Still, misinformation continues to spread, and unfounded fears persist.  Autism and Vaccines | Vaccine Safety | CDC

• Diarrhea
• Ear infections (otitis media)
• Lung infection (pneumonia)
• Brain swelling (encephalitis)
• Rare but fatal brain disease (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis)
• Death

These complications are most common among children younger than 5 and adults.