07/23/2026
Measles can weaken your child's immune system long after the infection is over. The virus can destroy immune memory cells that help the body recognize and fight off germs it has encountered before. This is known as "immune amnesia" and can leave children more vulnerable to other illnesses, even after they recover from measles.
Researchers have found that measles can erase a significant portion of the immune system's memory, making it harder for the body to defend against infections it once knew how to fight. Regaining that protection can take time and may require new infections or vaccinations.
This week, measles cases in the U.S. climbed past levels we haven’t seen in 35 years — a sign of how quickly the virus can spread when vaccination rates drop. To keep your child's immune system strong and protect against potentially serious infections, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine series. https://bit.ly/40n4mqa