Does the Measles Vaccine Last a Lifetime?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

While the measles vaccine provides long-lasting immunity, it may not last a lifetime for all individuals. Studies indicate that immunity can persist for at least 15 years following primary immunization, but the duration may be shorter compared to natural infection. Factors such as the type of vaccine and the administration schedule also play a role in the longevity of the immune response. Continued research and monitoring are essential to optimize vaccination strategies and ensure sustained protection against measles.

The measles vaccine has been a cornerstone of public health efforts to control and eliminate measles, a highly contagious viral disease. However, questions about the duration of immunity provided by the measles vaccine remain. This article explores whether the immunity conferred by the measles vaccine lasts a lifetime, drawing on findings from multiple research studies.

Duration of Immunity

Short-Term Immunity

Initial studies on the measles vaccine indicated that it provides solid protection shortly after administration. For instance, research on Enders’s live measles-virus vaccine demonstrated that the vaccine induced a pattern of antibody levels similar to those following natural measles infection, suggesting that the immunity could be long-lasting1. However, the exact duration of this immunity was not fully established in these early studies.

Long-Term Immunity

More recent studies have provided a clearer picture of the long-term immunity conferred by the measles vaccine. A study conducted in Zhejiang Province, China, followed 2882 immunized children over 15 years. The results indicated that immunity from the primary immunization persisted for at least 15 years, although a second dose of the vaccine did not significantly boost long-term antibody levels2. This suggests that while the initial vaccination provides long-lasting immunity, the benefits of reimmunization may be limited.

Comparison with Natural Infection

Comparative studies have shown that immunity following natural measles infection tends to be more robust and longer-lasting than that following vaccination. An Italian retrospective cohort study found that a significant proportion of vaccinated individuals did not have detectable protective anti-measles IgG several years after vaccination, whereas those with a history of natural infection maintained higher levels of protective antibodies3. This indicates that while the vaccine provides substantial protection, it may not be as enduring as the immunity acquired through natural infection.

Factors Influencing Immunity Duration

Vaccine Type and Administration

The type of measles vaccine and the schedule of administration can influence the duration of immunity. For example, inactivated measles vaccines have been shown to produce shorter-lasting antibody responses compared to live attenuated vaccines4. Additionally, the sequence of vaccine administration can impact overall child survival and immunity. A study in Northern Ghana found that administering the measles vaccine after the third dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine was associated with better child survival rates5.

Does the measles vaccine last a lifetime?

Ian Frazer has answered Uncertain

An expert from University of Queensland in Vaccines, Vaccinology

Measles infection seems to give lifelong immunity – an experiment of nature showed this when measles was reintroduced into an isolated island community after a long (about 50 year) gap, and those who were on the island during the last epidemic did not get measles whereas the younger members of the community born after the last epidemic were susceptible.

For the vaccine, we’re not sure that there is lifelong immunity in all immunised individuals – which is one of the reasons why in many countries measles immunisations are given to 1 year olds and then again at age 12 because there was a suggestion of waning immunity from the vaccine over time in some people.