As measles cases rise nationally, make sure you are vaccinated

If you’ve never had measles and are also unsure about your vaccination status, Berkeley’s Health Officer encourages you to get the highly effective 2-dose vaccine.

This guidance has long been commonplace given the extremely contagious nature of this serious, airborne, viral disease and the availability of a highly effective vaccine.

However, the emphasis to get fully vaccinated is rising as cases of measles have been increasing nationwide. The unvaccinated are the most vulnerable. The more people that are vaccinated in any community, the lesser the chance of spread.

The State of California offers an easy online tool to check your vaccination status. (Your health care provider should also be able to let you know.) If you’re unsure of vaccination status, there is no risk to getting additional doses.

Get the measles vaccine through your primary care physician. If you are uninsured or on Medi-Cal, get vaccinated for free at the City of Berkeley’s Immunization Clinic.

“Given the serious risks to the public's health presented by a highly contagious airborne disease like measles, we’re fortunate to have an extremely effective vaccine readily available. I encourage everyone to make sure they’ve been fully immunized against measles, for example with a vaccine such as MMR."

—Dr. Noemi Doohan, Berkeley’s Public Health Officer.

Get vaccinated

The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is safe and highly effective. Those who have had one dose of the vaccine are 93% protected from measles and those who have had two doses are 97% protected.

You can use your phone or computer to check your or your family’s vaccination status.

Everyone should plan to get two doses of the vaccine:

• Children: First dose between ages 12-15 months, second dose between ages 4-6 years
• Older children, adolescents, and adults: Two doses, 28 days apart

Get vaccinated to reduce your risk and avoid passing it on to others in your community.

Access vaccines through your health provider or City clinic

If you have health insurance, contact your health care provider to get vaccinated for measles.

If you are uninsured, your insurance does not cover vaccines, or you are on Medi-Cal or Medicare Part B, you can get vaccinated for free through the City of Berkeley.

Call the City of Berkeley Immunization Clinic at (510) 981-5350 to make an appointment. The clinic is open Tuesdays–Thursdays, 9 am–3 pm.

We offer services in English and Spanish, with interpreter services available for other languages.

Vaccinations are accessible to all California residents, regardless of immigration or insurance status. The City of Berkeley Immunization Clinic does not require ID.

Travel precautions

Measles has a higher prevalence internationally than in the U.S. Most domestic outbreaks begin with people who have caught the disease through international travel. For this reason, anyone with plans to travel outside the country should get vaccinated, especially if traveling to places where there is a current measles outbreak.

Reach out to your doctor at least six weeks before your trip so there is enough time to get fully vaccinated. It takes two weeks after vaccination to get the full protection. Before travel:

• Babies ages 6–11 months should receive one dose of MMR vaccine
• Ensure everyone 12 months and older is up to date on their MMR vaccine

When returning from international travel or travel to a measles-affected area, check for measles symptoms. Measles begins with a fever and then transitions to:

• Rash
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Pink eye

If you notice these symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately.

Measles severity and outbreaks

Measles can be very serious, especially for children and pregnant people. Measles can lead to:

• Pneumonia
• Encephalitis (brain swelling)
• Hospitalization
• Death

As of May 2025, there have been over 1,000 confirmed measles cases reported nationwide, with over 100 hospitalizations, 14 outbreaks, and 3 confirmed measles deaths. This is already significantly higher than in 2024, when 285 cases were reported for the entire year. There have been 11 confirmed measles cases in California so far this year.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and your children from this highly contagious and potentially deadly disease. Check your and your family’s vaccination status. If you can’t confirm whether you’ve got the full 2-dose series, get vaccinated right away.

Links

• Berkeley Vaccination Clinic
• Digital Vaccine Record (California Department of Public Health, CDPH)
• Measles information:
  • Travel Notice for Global Measles (CDC)
  • U.S. Measles Cases and Outbreaks (CDC)
  • Measles Activity in California (CDPH)
  • Measles Symptoms and Complications (CDC)