In figuring out if you're immune to measles, it's helpful to think in terms of a timeline.
If you were born before 1957, measles circulated so widely that you were likely exposed, and so generally considered to be immune for life.
But for those born in the 60s, infectious disease physician Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels with UK HealthCare says that's when some of the confusion starts.
"There were a couple different types of vaccines, and so that's where we advise people to talk to their health care provider. We can try to get with you, see if you can talk to a family member or a parent if available, look at old records, and figure out what you got. We might consider doing some tests to figure out if you're immune or if you need another dose of measles vaccine," he says.
Fast forward a decade to the 70s, and the modern MMR vaccine becomes available. But most who received it were only given one dose. That still provides a strong protection — around 93% percent, according to Van Sickels.
But what's considered full protection only arrived after 1989, when two doses became the norm. If you were born after that, a booster is likely unnecessary.
There are exceptions in cases where someone does a lot of international travel or works in a field, such as health care or in classrooms, where the extra potential exposure may be caused to consider another vaccine.
But bottom line, Van Sickels says, if you're unsure, make an appointment.
"Talk to your doctor or your primary care provider. Have them take a look at your information, when you were born, what you may have got might have gotten, ask you to talk to any family members that might have records, and then we make a decision together," he says.
The CDC considers MMR vaccinations against measles generally effective for life and stresses that the shots are proven to be safe. With misinformation spreading and vaccination rates dipping the commonwealth, Van Sickels seconds that point.
"There's always been a push against the measles vaccines because of the debunked autism (link), and then some of the concerns with the products, but it's really, really safe," he says. "It is a live vaccine. So we do recommend people talk to their healthcare providers about it, just because there are some adults, who get a transplant, for example. We wouldn't we wouldn't want to vaccinate them right away."
As of Friday, seven states had been added to list of states with ongoing measles outbreaks. Two — Ohio and Indiana — share borders with Kentucky.