PSA: I’m turning 55 next month, and there’s an issue with people who got vaccinated for measles around the same time I did as a kid having waning immunity. I got tested and it turned out I had no immunity, so I got revaccinated this week. Don’t listen to the science deniers: measles is not a trivial disease if you’re 5 or 55 and we can no longer rely on herd immunity.

@overholt This is an excellent reminder, thankyou!

Somehow I assumed some vaccines need a booster every 10 or so years and other vaccines last for your entire lifetime. But, occasionally the protection they offer can wane over time. Imagine my surprise when a friend (who received the usual suite of vaccines as a young kid) was recently tested for immunity, and the result indicated they have little or no defence against measles. Naturally, they got a fresh vaccine immediately.

There's a disturbing amount of science-denial and anti-vax nonsense going around. Predictably, this is leading to a sharp rise in highly-infectious communicable diseases going around in the community. I can only encourage people to ask their doctor about getting tested, protect themselves, and to do your part to boost herd immunity because it's an easy way to be being caring and protective of other people.

#Health #Medicine #Measles #MMR #Vaccines #VaccinesSaveLives #HerdImmunity #AntiVax

@overholt I got tested at 35 and had no immunity anymore! FYI no one warned me about fever and general crud one week into vaccine application.

PSA: I’m turning 55 next month, and there’s an issue with people who got vaccinated for measles around the same time I did as a kid having waning immunity. I got tested and it turned out I had no immunity, so I got revaccinated this week. Don’t listen to the science deniers: measles is not a trivial disease if you’re 5 or 55 and we can no longer rely on herd immunity.

PSA: I’m turning 55 next month, and there’s an issue with people who got vaccinated for measles around the same time I did as a kid having waning immunity. I got tested and it turned out I had no immunity, so I got revaccinated this week. Don’t listen to the science deniers: measles is not a trivial disease if you’re 5 or 55 and we can no longer rely on herd immunity.

PSA: I’m turning 55 next month, and there’s an issue with people who got vaccinated for measles around the same time I did as a kid having waning immunity. I got tested and it turned out I had no immunity, so I got revaccinated this week. Don’t listen to the science deniers: measles is not a trivial disease if you’re 5 or 55 and we can no longer rely on herd immunity.

@BinChicken Covid19 variant Omicron has also depleted immunity in people who have been infected by it, and consequent subvariants. #WearAMask @overholt

PSA: I’m turning 55 next month, and there’s an issue with people who got vaccinated for measles around the same time I did as a kid having waning immunity. I got tested and it turned out I had no immunity, so I got revaccinated this week. Don’t listen to the science deniers: measles is not a trivial disease if you’re 5 or 55 and we can no longer rely on herd immunity.

@Kpasa @Mab_813 @overholt @geolaw rare but possible yes. Wouldn't take the chance. Wish I'd been able to have the vaccine as a child, instead I have a bunch of pox scars and live in fear of shingles, which just took out my friend of same age (late 30s/early 40s) for weeks on end.

Yay vaccines. #vaccinesWork

PSA: I’m turning 55 next month, and there’s an issue with people who got vaccinated for measles around the same time I did as a kid having waning immunity. I got tested and it turned out I had no immunity, so I got revaccinated this week. Don’t listen to the science deniers: measles is not a trivial disease if you’re 5 or 55 and we can no longer rely on herd immunity.

PSA: I’m turning 55 next month, and there’s an issue with people who got vaccinated for measles around the same time I did as a kid having waning immunity. I got tested and it turned out I had no immunity, so I got revaccinated this week. Don’t listen to the science deniers: measles is not a trivial disease if you’re 5 or 55 and we can no longer rely on herd immunity.

@overholt This is a really important PSA! When I was getting ready to go to college in the late '80s they were systematically requiring a re-up of the measles vaccination due to the exact concern you mention. As a know it all teenager at the time, I was annoyed. But in the last several years, I've been grateful for that proactive requirement - made by the US Naval Hospital in Bethesda MD, which has since been merged with Walther Reed Army Medical Center.