Measles Vaccine Boosters in Immunocompromised Adults to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality From Acute Measles Infection: A Scoping Review.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness associated with significant global mortality, despite the availability of an effective vaccine. As vaccine hesitancy continues to increase following the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with a lack of measles-specific antiviral agents, the risk of outbreaks and epidemics remains elevated. Immunocompromised individuals have a higher risk of serious complications from measles, especially because the live-attenuated measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine may be contraindicated in severely immunocompromised patients. As such, these individuals depend on herd immunity. This scoping review aims to identify the potential need for a measles booster dose among immunocompromised adults in the United States by providing an overview of current vaccine indications and outcomes. EMBASE, Web of Science, and Ovid MEDLINE were searched using search terms specific to measles booster doses and immunocompromised adults. In total, 2,335 articles were imported to Rayyan, and after a two-tiered review, seven articles met the full inclusion criteria. The results revealed that individuals with chronic immunocompromising illnesses were often not fully protected against measles, leaving them vulnerable to infection. The findings from this review suggest that clinicians may consider a booster dose of vaccine for immunocompromised individuals to help restore their protection against measles. Meanwhile, further research utilizing larger sample sizes and diverse patient populations is warranted based on these findings. We believe that additional studies should aim to clarify current guidelines to improve the care of immunocompromised patients who may be exposed to measles.