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Measles vaccines given long ago could be less effective now, doctors say

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Measles vaccines given long ago could be less effective now, doctors say

For those who were vaccinated for measles many decades ago, there’s a chance the protection has worn off by now.

Amid the current measles outbreak in West Texas — and with cases also reported in New Mexico, New Jersey and several other states — some doctors are warning about the possibility of legacy vaccines becoming less effective over time.

Measles is a highly contagious virus for those who have not previously been infected or vaccinated, with up to a 90% chance of transmission.

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The measles vaccine was first introduced in 1968. Three years later, in 1971, the MMR vaccine made its debut, providing a trifecta of protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

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Some doctors are warning about the possibility of legacy vaccines becoming less effective over time. (iStock)

A couple of decades after the release of the MMR vaccine, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. 

“The standard recommendation from health authorities like the CDC is a two-dose series of the MMR vaccine,” Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier told Fox News Digital.

“For most people, these two doses provide lifelong immunity — about 97% effectiveness against measles.”

Who needs another vaccine?

The question of whether someone should get another measles vaccine depends on a few factors, like their vaccination history, age and health status, according to Saphier, who practices in New York.

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“If you’re an adult who got both doses as a kid, you’re likely fine unless you’re in a high-risk group — such as healthcare workers or travelers to outbreak areas — where a booster might be considered,” she said.

“Adults who were vaccinated for measles between 1963 and 1968 should check their vaccination history.”

People born before 1957 presumably have natural immunity, as they were likely exposed to measles before vaccines became available, according to the doctor.

“Adults who were vaccinated for measles between 1963 and 1968 should check their vaccination history to determine which vaccine they received,” Saphier advised. 

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“During that time, a version of the vaccine that used an inactivated form of the virus was available that was found to be not as effective and was ultimately withdrawn.”

Studies show that antibody levels can wane over decades, but actual measles cases in fully vaccinated people remain rare, Saphier added.

Studies show that antibody levels can wane over decades, but actual measles cases in fully vaccinated people remain rare. (iStock)

“No hard data says people need a third shot routinely, but if you’re worried, a blood test can check your antibody levels,” she said.

“As with everything in medicine, there are rare risks to vaccinating and substantial risks to not vaccinating.” 

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Each person’s situation is different and should be weighed carefully after a thorough conversation with a trusted medical team, Saphier added.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, also emphasized the importance of measles vaccinations — “particularly with the number of circulating measles cases and underimmunized people coming into the U.S. at a time when there is a big measles surge around the world.”

The measles vaccine was first introduced in 1968. Three years later, in 1971, the MMR vaccine made its debut, providing a trifecta of protection against measles, mumps and rubella. (iStock)

For those who are traveling to an area where a measles outbreak is occurring, he recommends that they see a doctor for a measles “titer test” and get a booster if they are not showing immunity. (The titer test measures an individual’s level of immunity to the virus.)

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“This is not yet an official suggestion anywhere, but I do check measles titers in many of my patients, and if they are low, I may give a booster as a precaution,” Siegel said.

MMR is a live virus vaccine and cannot be given to pregnant women or immunocompromised people, the doctor noted.

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So far in 2025, a total of 164 cases of measles have been reported in the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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A vast majority of those (140) are in Texas. Nine cases have been reported in New Mexico, with the remainder in California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

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Katie Couric couldn’t remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode

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Katie Couric couldn’t remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode

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Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.

In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.

“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.

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The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.

“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.

Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)

John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.

After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”

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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.

An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.

John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)

“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”

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Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.

“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”

It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.

“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.

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Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.

As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”

As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)

Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.

The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.

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“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”

Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.

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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.

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“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.

Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)

“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”

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“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”

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Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.

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One walking habit could signal a healthier brain after 80, scientists say

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One walking habit could signal a healthier brain after 80, scientists say

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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.

That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.

Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.

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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.

The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.

Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)

“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”

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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.

In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.

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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”

As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.

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Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)

“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.

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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”

“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”

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“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”

Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.

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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.

“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.

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Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.

Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)

This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.

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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.

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“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”

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I Tried the Viral Gelatin Weight-Loss Recipe—Here’s My Honest Take

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I Tried the Viral Gelatin Weight-Loss Recipe—Here’s My Honest Take


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I Tried the Viral Gelatin Weight-Loss Recipe: Does It Really Work?




















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