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.
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It's not your age, at least that's not the whole story.
In your age group, you only got vaccinated once - it was believed to be sufficient back then. Today, there are two measles vaccinations which has been proved to be much better/longer lasting.
Still, the result is the same - better get vaccinated one time more often than not!
@overholt@andi
In some countries it could be the age- age at vaccination. For a few years in New Zealand, just over 50 years ago, it was on the schedule as a single dose at 10 months. We now know that maternal antibodies can still be present in the infant at that age resulting in a reduced immune response. Vaccinating kids that young is now only done to protect them from an outbreak, and we call it dose zero and still give 2 more later on.
@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.
@overholt well, that's me right there..
"individuals vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 may have received a less effective, inactivated (killed) version of the measles vaccine. Anyone who received the inactivated vaccine or is unsure of the type they received should get one to two doses of the MMR vaccine,"
Some adults may need a measles booster shot. Who should get one and why? - Harvard Health
Measles vaccines have improved over the years. With the recent measles outbreaks, some adults may benefit from a measles booster shot. Learn who should get one, why it matters, and how to stay protected.
Harvard Health (www.health.harvard.edu)
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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.
I had Rubella in the womb and was vaccinated against it as a kid…I was shocked when I had my immunity to it tested age 36 and discovered I had none and had to be revaccinated. Everyone has different levels of immune response to vaccines is my understanding.
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@overholt I can't get vaccinated here b/c the system claims I'm immune b/c of my age.
I continue to mask in public, but still.
@StaceyCornelius
Sounds like your decision makers went to the same lecture series as ours.
If it's any consolation they are probably right. Even my mother who had family reasons for trying to keep us safe (posthumous child of a man who died tragically early of a communicable disease) didn't feel she had a hope of avoiding measles once we hit school age
@overholt -
@Mab_813 @overholt @geolaw yes chickenpox vaccine will protect from shingles when older, as you need to have been infected with the herpesvirus that causes them. Same virus, chicken pox first, shingles later when it comes back out of your spine. Yay.
MMR = measles, mumps and rubella. Three entirely different viruses!
@noodlemaz @Mab_813 @overholt @geolaw Chickenpox vaccine reduces the risk of shingles over having had wild type chickenpox, but you still can get shingles after the chickenpox vaccine as the vaccine contains live attenuated chicken pox virus. You will still want to get the shingles vaccine when you’re old enough if you have been vaccinated against chicken pox rather than having had an infection.
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I'm in the UK, like you, and also in the demographic where the measles vaccine we received may have been sub-optimal.
If you plan to travel to the US or developing countries where measles may be circulating, then yeah, it's probably worth getting an MMR even if you have to pay for it.
If you're not planning on travelling outside western Europe then don't bother. You are protected by herd immunity and won't encounter measles
@regordane
Unless some of your fellow travelers have brought it with them from somewhere like Bali. Which is of course also a possibility in your everyday life.
@callunavulgaris @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.
@overholt Being of similar vintage... When all of this recent measles epidemic started, I also got tested for measles immunity and found I'm OK and apparently don't need a re-vax. So, yes, please everyone: if you're uncertain, get tested or get vaxed. You really don't wanna get measles.
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@noodlemaz @Mab_813 @overholt @geolaw Chickenpox vaccine reduces the risk of shingles over having had wild type chickenpox, but you still can get shingles after the chickenpox vaccine as the vaccine contains live attenuated chicken pox virus. You will still want to get the shingles vaccine when you’re old enough if you have been vaccinated against chicken pox rather than having had an infection.
@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
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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 my doctor said I was fine because I was 53 but tested me anyway. Next visit I received the booster. The test has to be more expensive than the booster. Not sure why they bother with the test.
Ask to get tested...
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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 I was born in '67 and had to get revaccinated in college due to something like this. I supposed I should talk to my doctor, right?
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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.
I got tested earlier this year too! I had measles when I was 10 (do not recommend this experience), still have strong immunity.
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@overholt I had measles and mumps as a child in the 1950s. It's been my understanding that I was protected for life afterwards. Is this no longer considered true?
I had both when I was younger but my doctor did not hesitate to test when I asked about it. It's an easy test, and worth doing just to be sure.
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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 I'm 58, part of the questionable vaccination window, and got revaccinated a couple years ago. My doctor said given how solidly I fit the time frame, I should just skip the test and get the shot.
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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.
so I just go to my primary to get tested for measles immunity I'm around that same age too?
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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 It's especially not trivial if you're 65 or older and/or are immunocompromised.
I was the first one in my family to get flu and COVID-19 booster shots. I did that back in October (2025) on the same day and apart from some muscle aches in the arm where the needles went in for the next day, I was fine. The only acceptable exception for not getting important vaccines like the MMR one are medical reasons, like a bad reaction to a previous dose or if your doctor said not to. -
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 Yes, Yay Science! I’m 71 and got another MMR booster last year after I found out I had no immunity to measles or rubella, but I had to really insist on a titer test with Kaiser since they required one. One local pharmacy said they would give (sell) me the vax if Kaiser wouldn’t give me one - and I was interested to read someone mention that these local pharmacy policies may have changed (wouldn't be surprised). I had no IDEA that a vax could “wear out” until in the course of Kaiser chasing down an alarming lab result (now resolved), I noticed that my Hep B vax no longer gave me immunity, so I demanded a new one and I immediately started to worry about the others, especially measles. Sure enough... My local extended family had terrible experiences with polio, rubella, and whooping cough back in the day, which of course I brought up for emphasis. So I’m glad that I acted fast and didn’t suffer much indecision/nagging fear, who needs more of that...
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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
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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 I'm a few years younger than you. There was a serious outbreak of measles in the late '80s in the area where I grew up, so we all got an additional booster then.
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@stevenray Already did!
@overholt
good good! -
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 Got my titers tested, too! Bonus: It's fun to say.
