How measles can make your immune system forget: A soap opera comic strip explains

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by Rolando Avila and Debra Berliner

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Having measles can be miserable and sometimes dangerous. But did you know it can also make your immune system forget how to fight other illnesses? How can measles lead to “”immune amnesia”? We turned to the genre that’s infamous for amnesia as a plot twist–the soap opera–to show what happens.

A family watching a soap opera on TV. This episode: "I got amnesia...from measles!"
A cartoon depicts a vaccine syringe as a doctor. This character's patient is another character representing an immune system. He's shown as a a blob-like man. The immune-system-man can't remember how he's been spending time. The vaccine-doctor explains that he has "immune amnesia." The immune system, who has been working hard to protect his human from disease since birth, is shocked.
Cartoon images of a boy growing up when he's been sick from various illnesses. The vaccine-doctor explains that when the immune system is working, it stores up memories from these illnesses to make sure its human doesn't get the same diseases over and over.
Images of the same boy now grown up, shown as if in soap opera. The text explains that the immune system's memories are the reason it can be at crowded places, like a wedding or out shopping, without getting sick every time.
Explanation about how the immune system's memories can be erased when people get measles. Their bodies may have to re-learn what's safe. This is called immune amnesia. Cartoon of a talking chicken rising out of a coffin, ready to infect the immune-system with chicken pox.
Measles vaccine is more than protection against measles. It's a safety plan for your immune system. Cartoon of the immune-system character and the vaccine-doctor character driving off together in a convertible.

Comic by Rolando Avila and Debra Berliner.

For more information about measles vaccine: About the measles vaccine – King County, Washington

Originally published on July 14, 2025.