New York’s first measles death in more than 30 years.
A child in Lewis County, New York, has died in the state’s measles outbreak. State and county officials announced the death on November 2nd and called it New York’s first known measles-associated death in more than 30 years. Yesterday I wrote about why some kids still don’t get vaccinated in New York despite the state eliminating non-medical childhood vaccination exemptions in 2019.
Thanksgiving is three weeks away, and many grandparents will be holding a new baby for the first time.
How fast do a mother’s measles antibodies fade?
In the United States, babies don’t get their routine measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine until 12 months, although they can get an extra early dose as early as 6 months during an outbreak or before international travel. Until then, babies rely on antibodies from their mothers, which fade fast. In a 2019 study of 196 infants in Ontario, 92% of babies tested at 3 months had already lost protective levels.
So for months, the people around a baby are its main defense against measles.
Do grandparents need a measles booster?
Not if they have 2 documented MMR doses, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) counts as proof of immunity. The CDC doesn’t recommend antibody testing after that, or a routine third dose for measles, even during an outbreak. People born before 1957 are assumed to be immune because nearly everyone caught measles as a child back then.
If you were born in 1957 or later and can’t find documentation of MMR vaccination, get at least 1 dose now. Some people who got a measles shot from 1963 through 1967 got an inactivated vaccine that didn’t work. If that’s you, or you don’t know which kind you got, get another dose.
An extra MMR dose does no harm if you’re already immune. A quick shot at the pharmacy is a lot easier and faster than having blood drawn to test for antibodies. MMR’s weakened vaccine virus doesn’t spread from you to the baby.
In April 2025, Texas told adults with 1 documented dose in its outbreak counties to get a second.
How early should you get vaccinated before the due date?
In a CDC study, Tdap given to mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy prevented about 78% of whooping cough cases in babies younger than 2 months. It prevented about 90% of the cases that put a baby in the hospital. Whooping cough is most dangerous before 2 months, when babies get their first shot.
Anyone around a baby should get Tdap if they haven’t had it as an adult, plus a flu and COVID shot every season.
Get these shots at least 2 weeks before you meet the baby, since your body needs about that long to make antibodies. But because about 1 in 10 U.S. babies are born before 37 weeks, I’d get Tdap, flu, COVID, and any MMR dose 4 to 6 weeks before the due date. Two MMR doses must be at least 4 weeks apart, so start 8 weeks out if you need both.
Shingles, pneumococcal, and RSV vaccines for grandparents.
Shingles, pneumococcal, and RSV vaccines mainly protect you, and a grandparent sick in bed can’t hang out with a newborn.
In trials, the shingles vaccine Shingrix, which the CDC recommends at 50 and older, prevented 96% to 97% of cases in people in their 50s and 60s, and 91% in people 70 and older. Its side effects can keep you from normal activities for 2 to 3 days. Don’t get it the week you’re planning to visit.
The CDC recommends the pneumococcal vaccine starting at 50, and most people need 1 shot. It recommends 1 RSV shot at 75, or from 50 to 74 for people with conditions such as heart or lung disease.
You can get most of these on the same day, in different arms. Medicare Part D has covered recommended adult vaccines with no cost-sharing since January 2023. Part B covers flu and pneumococcal shots.
Finally, stay away when you’re sick and wash your hands before holding the baby.