Measles

[flick]

Anyone know anything much about vaccinations?

I didn't have the MMR. When I was about fifteen, I has a measles booster jab (there were worries about an outbreak in the area, so they just gave them to everyone). I came out in spots because (it was theorised) it was a booster for something I didn't have around to be boosted.

So, am I immune because I came out in spots and thus have had it, or am I not immune because all I've had was a booster, or because I only had one when you need to have two? I a bit immune? Can one be a bit immune? Anyone know?

Comments

[redbird]

I think a person can be a bit immune (if you are exposed to the actual disease partway through a multi-jab course of vaccinations, your odds are likely better than if you've had no vaccinations at all), but that the full course is better if you're concerned about the disease in question. If it was me, I'd ask my GP whether they thought I needed more jabs, and if so, whether it should be the MMR now or just a measles vaccine. (I am assuming that you aren't planning to become pregnant; if you are, get the MMR, because a large part of the risk of rubella is prenatal exposure.)

[flick]

I had mumps, and I got my rubella booster at 11. Not that I'm planning on needing it!

[voidampersand]

Immunity is hit or miss. It depends on what you were exposed to, and whether your immune system was able to create an antibody for it. Usually it works incredibly well, but not always, and immunity can wear off.

NHS: When do you need the MMR vaccine?
Pink Book "Rubella" - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PDF)
Rubella-specific IgM detected by an antibody capture assay/ELISA technique

Getting a rubella immunity test seems like a very good idea. Besides, science!

[con-girl.livejournal.com]

The reason you need the booster is that the vaccine doesn't last (you need boosters in adulthood, too) - your body after not seeing the antigen slowly loses the ability to respond. The booster is the same thing given to you a second time (or third or 4th time) to make your body create more antibodies to respond to the disease.

Not all vaccines need to be repeated - some antigens the body doesn't "forget."

You could have gotten the rash because a) you reacted to the egg in the vaccine b) the vaccine used live virus and some of it mutated back to being disease capable c) some coincidence d) some other reason I don't know. But I am pretty sure it had nothing to do with the earlier missed dose.

[daveon.livejournal.com]

Depends on your body and immune system. I've had varying bad reactions to booster shots (most seriously Tetinus - such that it's generally agreed I shouldn't have another booster unless I need one).

When we got our green cards we had to have medicals and booster shots for things like Measles unless we could prove our antibody levels were sufficient. M just took the shots I asked for an antibody test.

I was interested to find that for Measles my anti-body load is something like 3 times the normal expected figure for somebody my age.

So, in short, you can have a significant degree of immunity through to virtually none even if you have had the booster/vaccination and it depends on your body.

[daveon.livejournal.com]

Also depends on your immune system and how you dealt with the first vaccine... which doesn't really help.

I have extremely high antibodies for Measles even though it's 30+ years since my last booster.

I also react to some of the binding agents in vaccines like the Diphtheria used in Tetanus shots.

It was fascinating to have the various antibody loads tested. I also scored high on Chicken Pox but as I only had that in my 30s I wasn't entirely surprised.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

I didn't think of an antibody test: maybe I'll call the GP and see if they can do me one. Ta!

[pierre-fermat.livejournal.com]

It's a common mistake for people to think that they are "immune" to measles because they had it as a child. They CAN get it again, and IF it is mild they can pass it on to others without even realising that they have it again.

[pierre-fermat.livejournal.com]

The reason you (Dave) scored high for measles would probably be that you actually have had it again as an adult. You just thought it was flu or that you were a bit under the weather for a week or two. But you'd have been able to pass it on to others.

[daveon.livejournal.com]

Uh huh :)

[daveon.livejournal.com]

I didn't have it as a child as I had the vaccination as a kid, with boosters. Although I did get Rubella as a kid, but this was significantly before MMR.