Medical types, do I need an MMR booster?

[wise_rita]

I'm not sure that's even a thing.

The university I work at has had 8 confirmed cases of measles*, and I work in a department that infected people are likely to wander through.

Looking at my vaccination cards as a kid I had one shot at age 1.5 and another just before I turned 13.  That last shot was 20 years ago.  

I feel like I need to do something.  Advice?

*ETA because duh

[sjh722]

I had my titers checked when I was pregnant with dd2 last winter and there were so many confirmed cases. Not all people develop immunity from the vax, IIRC. I wanted to be sure I didn't need a booster.

If I were you I'd get checked out.

[hbear]

Get your titers checked. You had the required vaccines at the right ages, but there is no easy to tell if you are still immune unless you check the titers. If it's low, you can get another MMR.

[underwaterrhymes]

How does one pronounce titres? I'd like to have them checked but don't want to sound dumb when I ask. LOL. I should know this!

Oh and fuck the anti-vaxxers wio have brought measles back. I'm sorry you have so many cases in your school wise_rita.

[dirtyred]

Sept 5, 2015 6:09:43 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

How does one pronounce titres? I'd like to have them checked but don't want to sound dumb when I ask. LOL. I should know this!

Oh and fuck the anti-vaxxers wio have brought measles back. I'm sorry you have so many cars in your school wise_rita.

Tighters

[wise_rita]

See this is why I ask things here before I even Google!  I've never heard of titers before.  Thanks for the advice, I will check with my GP about getting them checked.

I actually suspect it's students from the third world, not anti-vaxxers, who brought this shit upon us.  I'm not in the USA, and it seems like America is the only sane place in the world that requires proof of vaccination for enrolment.  Which is ridiculous!

[Birdie]

Sept 5, 2015 6:13:30 GMT -5 dirtyred said:

Sept 5, 2015 6:09:43 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

How does one pronounce titres? I'd like to have them checked but don't want to sound dumb when I ask. LOL. I should know this!

Oh and fuck the anti-vaxxers wio have brought measles back. I'm sorry you have so many cars in your school wise_rita.

Tighters

Oh it's not titters? Good to know :-P

[hopecounts]

Yep, have your titres checked, they checked mine when I was pregnant with DD and my Rubella titre was below effective levels so after I had her I got a booster of the MMR.

[MrsAxilla]

Sept 5, 2015 9:45:41 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

You can just go get the shot
It wont hurt if you dont need it and itll offer protection faster than waiting for an appt to go in to get checked

Ditto.  It takes a few days or more to get your titre results, and I don't think that falls under preventative care, so you'll have copays and such.  After 20 years, your immunity has most like worn off, or is at least low.  Just get a booster - promise you won't get autism!  

[orangeblossom]

It won't hurt for you just to get the booster. You can also get your tigers done.

I just had men done, because tigers showed, I didn't mount a response to rubeola. I have to get a booster for school.

[orangeblossom]

Sept 5, 2015 9:54:32 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Sept 5, 2015 9:45:41 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

You can just go get the shot
It wont hurt if you dont need it and itll offer protection faster than waiting for an appt to go in to get checked

Ditto.  It takes a few days or more to get your titre results, and I don't think that falls under preventative care, so you'll have copays and such.  After 20 years, your immunity has most like worn off, or is at least low.  Just get a booster - promise you won't get autism!  

The immunity doesn't really wear off for those, otherwise all adults would need to get boosters, and they don't.

My titers are the same now, as they were when I got my second one twenty years ago. I know, because I just had them checked, and I'm still immune.

[MrsAxilla]

Sept 5, 2015 10:14:21 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Sept 5, 2015 9:54:32 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Ditto.  It takes a few days or more to get your titre results, and I don't think that falls under preventative care, so you'll have copays and such.  After 20 years, your immunity has most like worn off, or is at least low.  Just get a booster - promise you won't get autism!  

The immunity doesn't really wear off for those, otherwise all adults would need to get boosters, and they don't.

My titers are the same now, as they were when I got my second one twenty years ago. I know, because I just had them checked, and I'm still immune.

I was under the impression immunity does wear off, but I guess I don't really know.  

[nsl]

Sept 5, 2015 10:14:21 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Sept 5, 2015 9:54:32 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Ditto.  It takes a few days or more to get your titre results, and I don't think that falls under preventative care, so you'll have copays and such.  After 20 years, your immunity has most like worn off, or is at least low.  Just get a booster - promise you won't get autism!  

The immunity doesn't really wear off for those, otherwise all adults would need to get boosters, and they don't.

My titers are the same now, as they were when I got my second one twenty years ago. I know, because I just had them checked, and I'm still immune.

It does for some people. I've had five MMR shots and have no rubella immunity 2 years after my most recent one, so I have to get it again.

[mcsangel2]

After the Disneyland measles outbreak last year spread to Arizona, I had my titers checked. I had no immunity to measles or rubella anymore, and I had my original shot and booster at the same age you did. Got my booster!

[mcsangel2]

Sept 5, 2015 10:14:21 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Sept 5, 2015 9:54:32 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Ditto.  It takes a few days or more to get your titre results, and I don't think that falls under preventative care, so you'll have copays and such.  After 20 years, your immunity has most like worn off, or is at least low.  Just get a booster - promise you won't get autism!  

The immunity doesn't really wear off for those, otherwise all adults would need to get boosters, and they don't.

My titers are the same now, as they were when I got my second one twenty years ago. I know, because I just had them checked, and I'm still immune.

I thought that the conventional wisdom re: vaccines had changed in the last few years with recognition that some major ones (MMR and pertussis) do wear off. Adults should expect to need at least one more booster in their lifetime.

[orangeblossom]

Sept 5, 2015 10:40:08 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Sept 5, 2015 10:14:21 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

The immunity doesn't really wear off for those, otherwise all adults would need to get boosters, and they don't.

My titers are the same now, as they were when I got my second one twenty years ago. I know, because I just had them checked, and I'm still immune.

I was under the impression immunity does wear off, but I guess I don't really know.  

It can, but it's not a foregone conclusion that that applies to all people. I was just saying, I wouldn't same to someone "oh, you should probably get it, because it's worn off after 20 years.", if that makes sense.

[orangeblossom]

Sept 5, 2015 11:22:10 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Sept 5, 2015 10:14:21 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

The immunity doesn't really wear off for those, otherwise all adults would need to get boosters, and they don't.

My titers are the same now, as they were when I got my second one twenty years ago. I know, because I just had them checked, and I'm still immune.

I thought that the conventional wisdom re: vaccines had changed in the last few years with recognition that some major ones (MMR and pertussis) do wear off. Adults should expect to need at least one more booster in their lifetime.

Pertussis, yes. I have not heard that as the prevailing choice for MMR.

[orangeblossom]

Sept 5, 2015 11:09:11 GMT -5 nsl said:

Sept 5, 2015 10:14:21 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

The immunity doesn't really wear off for those, otherwise all adults would need to get boosters, and they don't.

My titers are the same now, as they were when I got my second one twenty years ago. I know, because I just had them checked, and I'm still immune.

It does for some people. I've had five MMR shots and have no rubella immunity 2 years after my most recent one, so I have to get it again.

I should adjust quote. some people need boosters, and some don't. Some people don't mount a good response, and it's not a matter of needing a booster because it wore off, it's because they didn't mount a good response to begin with.

With five boosters, I would suspect you don't servo very well.

[Deleted]

Definitely get your titers drawn.  Most people remain immune with the MMR, but having everything g checked is a good idea.  The most common booster we need is tetanus every 10 years and diphtheria and pertussis have been added to the tetanus booster. 

[liverandonions]

Sept 5, 2015 10:12:21 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

It won't hurt for you just to get the booster. You can also get your tigers done.

I just had men done, because tigers showed, I didn't mount a response to rubeola. I have to get a booster for school.

Everyone has already answered but I had to quote this because the autocorrects are awesome.

[mcsangel2]

www.webmd.com/vaccines/adult-mmr-vaccine-guidelines

Partial quote:

When should adults get the MMR vaccine?

The CDC says most adults born in 1957 or later should get at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. Because of the risk of birth defects, all women of childbearing age should have the MMR vaccine unless they're pregnant or have proof of immunity, or proof of already being vaccinated for rubella.

When should adults get the MMR vaccine? continued...

The CDC says adults at greater risk of measles or mumps should get two doses of MMR vaccine, the second one 4 weeks after the first. This includes adults who:
•Have been exposed to measles or mumps or live in an area where an outbreak has happened
•Are students in colleges or trade schools
•Travel internationally
•Work in health care

For measles, the CDC advises a second dose for adults who:
•Were previously given a vaccine made with "killed" measles (instead of the live-type of vaccine used today)
•Were given an MMR vaccine between 1963 and 1967, but there's no record of what type.