Measles Vaccine: One Shot, Protection From Many Diseases

Blindness, pneumonia, severe diarrhea, and even death—measles infections can result in serious health outcomes, especially for children (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Measles isn't just dangerous - it may erase your immune system

Go to source). Thankfully, there is a safe and effective solution. Between the years 2000 and 2023, it is estimated that measles vaccination has prevented over 60 million deaths.

Rising Cases Despite Proven Prevention

Even with this success, measles cases are rising rapidly in the United Kingdom and across the globe. This increase stems from multiple causes, including a growing reluctance to vaccinate and missed immunization efforts, which leave many children exposed and at risk.

However, measles itself is not the only concern. Emerging evidence points to an unexpected benefit of the vaccine: children who receive the measles vaccine appear less likely to suffer from infections caused by other, unrelated diseases.

Immune Memory Disruption from Measles Infection

One potential reason for this wider protective effect is what has been termed "measles amnesia." This term describes how the measles virus can erase parts of the immune system's memory.

The human immune system is composed of various cells that protect the body. Some produce antibodies to neutralize viruses, while others identify and destroy cells that are infected. The immune memory allows the body to recognize past infections and respond more quickly when they reappear.

But measles infection may drastically reduce both the quantity and diversity of memory cells, leaving children at risk for diseases they had previously built resistance against. Essentially, the measles virus does not just cause immediate illness, it can also erase years of acquired immunity.

Immune Cell Loss in Unvaccinated Children

In one study , scientists discovered that 11 to 73 percent of antibodies that targeted other illnesses disappeared in unvaccinated children who had contracted measles. This loss was not observed in those who had received the vaccine, indicating that vaccination may shield the body from this immune damage.

This large-scale weakening of the immune system may help clarify why outbreaks of measles are often followed by increases in other infectious diseases. Studies are underway in areas like West Africa, where both measles and other infections remain common, to better understand the effect of measles amnesia.

Non-Specific Immune Boost from the Vaccine

An alternative explanation for the broader benefit of the vaccine is called the "non-specific effect." While measles amnesia accounts for how the virus harms the immune system, the non-specific effect suggests that the vaccine may actively improve immune function across various diseases.

Recent studies have indicated that the measles vaccine could enhance how certain immune cells operate, making them more capable of defending against a range of pathogens. Some experts believe that this immune strengthening may be the main reason vaccinated children experience better overall health, not just protection against amnesia.

The measles vaccine is a live attenuated type, which means it contains a weakened form of the virus to trigger a strong immune response. Other live vaccines, such as the BCG vaccine used for tuberculosis, have been known to produce broad immune training effects, which may explain the extended protection offered.

Fading Memory of Measles Danger

In the 1960s, prior to widespread immunization, measles caused 2.6 million deaths annually. Today, that level of danger feels distant, which is part of the issue.

As measles cases dropped, public awareness of its severity also declined. People forgot how easily it spreads, one infected individual can transmit the virus to up to 90 percent of nearby unvaccinated people and how well vaccination works, with two doses giving more than 90 percent long-lasting protection.

In some communities, this fading memory has been replaced by something even more harmful: distrust. Myths, false claims about vaccines, and anti-vaccine sentiments are spreading just as fast as the virus itself.

Whether the added protection comes from preventing immune amnesia, strengthening the immune system, or both, the message remains clear: Vaccinate children against measles. Doing so not only protects them from measles but also from other serious infections.

Reference:

1. Measles isn’t just dangerous – it may erase your immune system - (https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/measles-isnt-just-dangerous-it-may-erase-your-immune-system)

Source-Medindia