Had the measles as a kid? Then you’re already protected

“Individuals born before 1957, that’s the cutoff, are generally presumed to be immune due to widespread natural measles,” said Sean O’Leary, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Colorado and an infectious disease specialist. For those born before 1957, measles was so common and contagious almost everyone contracted it before they were 15. When you get measles, your body develops antibodies against the virus. “Once you have measles, can you get it again? Very rare. Very rarely. So it’s usually lifelong protection,” said O’Leary.