Q. Like just about every kid in my neighborhood, I had the measles in the 1950s. I’ve been hearing about the need for adults to get vaccinated. I think I am immune. Is that right?
A. I found the following information on the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Before the measles vaccination program started in 1963, an estimated 3 to 4 million people got measles each year in the United States, of which 500,000 were reported. Among reported cases, 400 to 500 died, 48,000 were hospitalized and 1,000 developed encephalitis (brain swelling) from measles.
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