Too Young for MMR Vax, Babies Are ‘Sitting Ducks’ for Measles

As measles cases climbed in South Carolina, the Otwell family began changing everyday routines to avoid exposure. Their son Arthur was still too young for the measles vaccine, and with another baby expected in June, the growing outbreak became a constant concern during ordinary errands like grocery shopping. John Otwell said their family often shops at a Costco location that had been linked to several cases. He noted that some people underestimate the seriousness of measles, assuming it is similar to a cold, when in reality it can be far more dangerous.

By the time Arthur reached his nine-month checkup, the outbreak in South Carolina had become the largest in the United States in more than 35 years, exceeding the outbreak reported in Texas the previous year. Because of the scale of the outbreak, state health guidance allowed Arthur to receive his first dose of the MMR vaccine—protecting against measles, mumps, and rubella—earlier than the standard schedule of 12 to 15 months. Their next child, however, will not be eligible for the vaccine until at least six months of age, a delay that worries many parents of infants in areas where measles is spreading.

Infants who are too young to be vaccinated are among those most at risk during measles outbreaks. The illness can hit babies particularly hard, sometimes causing them to stop eating or drinking. Serious complications such as pneumonia or swelling of the brain can develop, and in some cases the disease can be fatal. Because they cannot yet be vaccinated, babies rely on herd immunity for protection. Public health experts say about 95 percent of a community must be vaccinated to prevent measles from spreading widely. However, declining vaccination rates in South Carolina and other parts of the country have weakened that protective barrier. In Spartanburg County, which has been the center of the outbreak, fewer than 90 percent of students have received required vaccinations. Pediatrician Dr. Deborah Greenhouse of Columbia said this leaves infants extremely exposed during outbreaks and emphasized that protecting vulnerable children requires widespread vaccination within the community.

Although South Carolina’s outbreak—estimated at about 1,000 cases—has begun to slow, measles has appeared in multiple states. This year alone there have been 17 outbreaks, following 48 reported the year before. Health officials warn that the United States is at risk of losing its designation as a country that eliminated measles. Dr. Jessica Early said she never expected to treat measles cases during her career, but the situation has forced many doctors to adjust vaccination practices. Her clinic has started offering the first MMR dose to infants as young as six months old, and in some cases administering the second dose earlier than the typical age range of four to six years.

At the same time, debates over vaccination policy have intensified. Some lawmakers increasingly frame vaccination as a matter of personal liberty and parental choice rather than a collective public health measure. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long criticized vaccines, has moved to reshape federal vaccine policy while overseeing large cuts to public health funding. An Associated Press investigation last year reported that officials in President Trump’s administration were encouraging activists to promote anti-science legislation in state legislatures. Nationwide, about 350 bills challenging vaccine requirements had been introduced by late October, including at least eight in South Carolina. One proposed measure in the state this year would ban vaccine requirements for children younger than two years old, which would effectively remove those requirements in daycare centers. Dr. Greenhouse said the proposal deeply alarms many pediatricians, who fear it could further weaken protections for the youngest and most vulnerable children.