I recently asked for titers due to a close miss with a measles exposure in my local Costco and learned that while measles and rubella were still holding up great, my mumps immunity was at 0. I also learned I had no Hep B immunity so, presumably, I never got it. I missed the varicella vaccine due to its timing and my age, but figured that out in my mid-30s when my stepdaughter got shingles and gave me chickenpox. Fortunately, I knew what that was immediately and was able to get antivirals. I'm 48, to put that in age perspective. I have one Hep B remaining and then I will be all caught up.
I really feel that titers should be encouraged for everyone. No one wants to catch this stuff!
For those born before 1957, we assume they (we) all had measles as children. Did we all? Is there any evidence that people born before 1957 should be vaccinated or titers checked for previous disease?
This is very interesting because I was born in 1950 and remember very clearly getting measles at age 13. When I became pregnant at age 23 (50 years ago. ha-ha), my Dr. asked if I had had measles. When I said yes, he said he would do a measles titer to be sure I had immunity so I would not need to worry about that during my pregnancy, especially since I couldn't get vaccinated as I was already pregnant. The titer indicated I did have immunity and that was one thing I didn't worry about during the rest of my pregnancy. Fast forward to my late 40s when I went back to college and had to get the MMR to enroll. I knew I was most likely immune but went ahead and got the vaccine anyway because it was just quicker and easier than seeing if I could get another measles titer done. I think nowadays its just standard to take care of this and many other health concerns prior to even trying to get pregnant.
Great article. These are the facts I've dealt with for the last 20 years (as patients and grandparents became more skeptical about vaccines). I have always been worried about older parents and I now worry about vaccine deniers. We sent many grandparents for titers. The problem became that only the "old timers" could recognize measles and rubella creating problems in dealing with parents and even the state.
I was born in 1960 and believe I had the normal two vaccines. I also think I had a vaccine in the early 80's in college. However I had a titer done some years ago possibly 2013 and found that I didn't have any immunity and got a booster. I think my age group should check to see if their vaccine has worn out and get a booster particularly if going abroad or being near young children. I really don't think I was in the age cohort which ran into notably short lived vaccines.
I got the “killed” version of the measles vaccine in 1966 and a titer showed I had no immunity. Probably worth looking into to if one was vaccinated between 1963-1967.
I had measles, chicken pox and whooping cough over 60 years ago. I never had the mumps. Now I have grandchildren who seem to be petri dishes. Should I get the vaccination?
Just wondering, for those of us of a certain age that acquired immunity the old fashioned way, can it be assumed the waning of coverage will be similar to those vaccinated and age?
This is very confusing: "A breakthrough case is rare but possible (3 out of 100 fully vaccinated people will get infected). " That makes it sound like 3% of vaccinated adults in the US are going to get measles. I can't imagine this is true, as measles is still very rare. Do you mean that out of every 100 people who get measles, on average 97 are unvaccinated and 3 are vaccinated?
I am a HUGE fan of your work, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Not a week goes by that I don't say to a friend, " Well ,my favorite epidemiologist says." ... Small point about recent piece: you said "But nothing is perfect. A breakthrough case is rare but possible (3 out of 100 fully vaccinated people will get infected)." Might sound like 3% of the fully vaccinated population are going to get it. Don't you mean: "Of 100 cases that occur, 3 will be in fully vaccinated people"?
I am 73. I had measles when I was about four years old. I have never been vaccinated for measles (or mumps (which I never had) and rubella which I did.) Should I get vaccinated?
I was born in 1951, and thus resumed to be immune from measles. However, when i took a new job at a different hospital as a clinical pharmacist, proof of immunity was required. I was not, and had the vaccine. Good thing for a bad disease.
I recently asked for titers due to a close miss with a measles exposure in my local Costco and learned that while measles and rubella were still holding up great, my mumps immunity was at 0. I also learned I had no Hep B immunity so, presumably, I never got it. I missed the varicella vaccine due to its timing and my age, but figured that out in my mid-30s when my stepdaughter got shingles and gave me chickenpox. Fortunately, I knew what that was immediately and was able to get antivirals. I'm 48, to put that in age perspective. I have one Hep B remaining and then I will be all caught up.
I really feel that titers should be encouraged for everyone. No one wants to catch this stuff!
For those born before 1957, we assume they (we) all had measles as children. Did we all? Is there any evidence that people born before 1957 should be vaccinated or titers checked for previous disease?
Not shown in the image about measles risks is one more especially bad thing: that measles destroys a lot of existing immune memory:
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/10/how-measles-wipes-out-the-bodys-immune-memory/
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20211112-the-people-with-immune-amnesia
This is very interesting because I was born in 1950 and remember very clearly getting measles at age 13. When I became pregnant at age 23 (50 years ago. ha-ha), my Dr. asked if I had had measles. When I said yes, he said he would do a measles titer to be sure I had immunity so I would not need to worry about that during my pregnancy, especially since I couldn't get vaccinated as I was already pregnant. The titer indicated I did have immunity and that was one thing I didn't worry about during the rest of my pregnancy. Fast forward to my late 40s when I went back to college and had to get the MMR to enroll. I knew I was most likely immune but went ahead and got the vaccine anyway because it was just quicker and easier than seeing if I could get another measles titer done. I think nowadays its just standard to take care of this and many other health concerns prior to even trying to get pregnant.
Great article. These are the facts I've dealt with for the last 20 years (as patients and grandparents became more skeptical about vaccines). I have always been worried about older parents and I now worry about vaccine deniers. We sent many grandparents for titers. The problem became that only the "old timers" could recognize measles and rubella creating problems in dealing with parents and even the state.
I'm 72 and I've had measles but not mumps. I don't know if I've had the MMR. Should I request a titer test to see, or just get the MMR?
I was born in 1960 and believe I had the normal two vaccines. I also think I had a vaccine in the early 80's in college. However I had a titer done some years ago possibly 2013 and found that I didn't have any immunity and got a booster. I think my age group should check to see if their vaccine has worn out and get a booster particularly if going abroad or being near young children. I really don't think I was in the age cohort which ran into notably short lived vaccines.
I got the “killed” version of the measles vaccine in 1966 and a titer showed I had no immunity. Probably worth looking into to if one was vaccinated between 1963-1967.
I too would like to know if I should get an MMR now. Born in 1951, I had both measles and mumps.
I had measles, chicken pox and whooping cough over 60 years ago. I never had the mumps. Now I have grandchildren who seem to be petri dishes. Should I get the vaccination?
Just wondering, for those of us of a certain age that acquired immunity the old fashioned way, can it be assumed the waning of coverage will be similar to those vaccinated and age?
This is very confusing: "A breakthrough case is rare but possible (3 out of 100 fully vaccinated people will get infected). " That makes it sound like 3% of vaccinated adults in the US are going to get measles. I can't imagine this is true, as measles is still very rare. Do you mean that out of every 100 people who get measles, on average 97 are unvaccinated and 3 are vaccinated?
How can people tell whether they once had measles (rubeola) or German measles (rubella)? Does vaccination prevent one of these or both?
I am a HUGE fan of your work, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Not a week goes by that I don't say to a friend, " Well ,my favorite epidemiologist says." ... Small point about recent piece: you said "But nothing is perfect. A breakthrough case is rare but possible (3 out of 100 fully vaccinated people will get infected)." Might sound like 3% of the fully vaccinated population are going to get it. Don't you mean: "Of 100 cases that occur, 3 will be in fully vaccinated people"?
I am 73. I had measles when I was about four years old. I have never been vaccinated for measles (or mumps (which I never had) and rubella which I did.) Should I get vaccinated?
I was born in 1951, and thus resumed to be immune from measles. However, when i took a new job at a different hospital as a clinical pharmacist, proof of immunity was required. I was not, and had the vaccine. Good thing for a bad disease.