Babies Are Getting Measles In The Womb. That Wasn’t A Problem Before The Vaccine, Doctors Say

Pennsylvania reported 66 pregnant women with measles and at least six babies born with the infection in 2026, prompting a health department warning to get the MMR vaccine. Some doctors cited in the article argue that congenital measles was rarer before vaccination, when most pregnant women had acquired immunity through childhood infection and could pass protective antibodies to their babies.

The doctors say vaccine-derived immunity may be less durable than immunity from infection, and argue that widespread vaccination has reduced the natural transfer of antibodies to newborns. The article also notes that the American Academy of Pediatrics describes congenital measles as uncommon before the vaccine era, and estimates a 25 to 30 per cent chance of transmission when a pregnant woman contracts measles. These claims are presented alongside the Pennsylvania health department’s recommendation that MMR vaccination is the best way to prevent measles, including in newborns.