Remember when getting sick meant chicken soup, cartoons, and being stuck on the couch for days? I sure do—and one summer, my sister and I hit the trifecta: measles, chickenpox, and mumps, back-to-back. Back then, parents even encouraged playdates with sick kids just to “get it over with.” Times sure have changed—and not always for the better. Measles is back.

For those working in senior living communities, this resurgence is especially concerning. Measles is a highly contagious airborne illness that can be serious, particularly for those with weakened immune systems. Before the vaccine, hundreds died each year in the U.S. from this illness. While it’s not a seasonal virus, measles spreads rapidly when travel increases, or unvaccinated individuals are in close quarters—just like we see in summer camps or even communal settings like ours.

Recently, measles cases have spiked dramatically, with over 222 confirmed cases across 12 states including California, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Texas. This data comes from the CDC’s latest update on Measles Cases and Outbreaks.

Although the disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, the current surge is a reminder that this status depends on high vaccination rates. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine remains our best defense. Two doses offer about 97% protection, and even a single dose is 93% effective. However, during outbreaks, even vaccinated individuals are at slightly increased risk—especially in communities where the virus is spreading.

So, what can you do to help protect your residents and staff? According to the CDC, healthcare personnel should have “presumptive evidence of immunity” to measles. This can include:

• Written proof of two doses of measles-containing vaccine, given at the appropriate intervals

• Laboratory evidence of immunity

• Laboratory confirmation of past measles infection

• Or being born before 1957

However, during an outbreak, the CDC recommends all staff receive two doses of the measles vaccine, regardless of birth year, unless they already meet other immunity criteria. These guidelines are outlined in the 2013 MMWR Prevention of Measles, Rubella, Congenital Rubella Syndrome, and Mumps.

This is a good time to revisit your immunization records and infection protocols. Engage your medical director, pharmacy partner, and infection preventionist. Make sure PPE supplies are up to date, including NIOSH-certified N95 respirators, which the CDC recommends in its interim infection control guidance for measles in healthcare settings. COVID taught us the cost of being caught off guard—we can’t afford to repeat that lesson.

Stay well and stay informed!