Measles Boosters - Should we consider?

[purr-rat beauty]

I am returning to work at a primary care office after some intense cancer treatment, I am not 100% and am wondering if I fall into the vulnerable population.

If you were vaccinated between 1968 and 1989, you likely received just one dose of the measles vaccine, instead of the two doses that are standard today. One dose alone is highly effective and for most people, it provides more than enough protection, says Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease specialist in New York City and author of Booster Shots, a book on the history of measles.

But Ratner says there are several situations in which the CDC recommends an additional dose of measles vaccine for adults who are considered at high risk. That includes people who are in college settings, work in health care, live or are in close contact with immuno-compromised people, or are traveling internationally.

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/21/nx-s1-5304458/measles-vaccine-booster-health

[hlthe2b]

1. Regardless, CDC recommends measles boosters for immunocompromised and HCWs--so you likely fit on 2 scores;

Likewise, international travelers and several age groups when a single inactivated (non-live MMR) dose was given as the only vaccine and since proven less effective. So, yes.

For those who remember past decades when the CDC really strengthened recommendations for HCWs-- and subsequently allowed hospitals that decided to offer proof of a protective serum titer as an alternative, that is indeed an alternative to a booster dose. But serum titers are not inexpensive, so if you fit the criteria or your physician recommends it for whatever reason, an MMR booster is probably a better choice.

[Mariana]

2. It can't hurt.

Some people got vaccinated too young, before 12 months old, which makes it less effective. My vaccine failed for that reason and I got measles in 1973.

[Rebl2]

3. Does

anyone know if measles vaccine is a live vaccine? I am immunocompromised and have been told by my doctor never to get live vaccines.

[purr-rat beauty]

4. I am curious about that too

my friend and I were chatting about it and she said it is but has crohn's disease so may not be able to get it.

[JCMach1]

5. May not be available... Kind of a normal thing during

Epidemics, the will reserve MMR for kids.

[Mossfern]

6. Do you need the vaccine

I you had measles when you were a child?

[chowder66]

7. You have lifelong immunity.

If you've already had measles, your body has built up its immune system to fight the infection, and you can't get measles again. Most people born or living in the U.S. before 1957 are immune to measles, simply because they've already had it.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/symptoms-causes/syc-20374857

[elocs]

11. I had measles in 1953 when I was 9 months & was hospitalized, but I could swear I had it again in grade school

and was forced to stay home from school and I had the spots on my abdomen. I don't believe I was ever immunized for it, but back in the '50s, kids got exposed to everything.

[chowder66]

12. It's said you cannot get measles twice.

That's according to the Mayo Clinic.

Could it be you had something else like chicken pox or hives or some sort of reaction?

[elocs]

13. It could have been rubella which is not measles even though it's known as

German measles. Symptoms: rash, fever, headache, and joint pain. The "R" of the MMR vaccine. "A mild illness for most people, but can cause severe birth defects or death in an unborn baby." It was very mild for me, just 3 days off from school and getting to watch the 3 stations on our b & w which were soaps either in a hospital or court, or I Love Lucy reruns.

[chowder66]

14. Poor thing. You sure did get walloped!

My mom had measles but it didn't affect her that much. She was lucky. All I had was chicken pox and I was pretty little, around 4 or 5. I remember running around without a shirt (it was summer) and lots of calamine lotion on my chicka-itchy's.

[Mariana]

15. My doctor said no

when she was asking me questions to determine if I should have an MMR booster some years ago. Having the disease gives you lifelong immunity.

[chowder66]

8. I only found out I never had the MMR vaccine in 2019 when there was an outbreak in L.A.

I got vaccinated at that time. Unfortunately the state of Missouri lost my vaccine schedule and my mom can't recall if I had the Polio vaccine but she suspects I did because she always got the required ones for me. It would have been the sugar cube but I can't remember either. There's no way to tell for sure though so I'm going to talk to my doctor about it.

[phylny]

9. I was born in 1958

I had the mumps as a childand I had a measles vaccine and a rubella vaccine. I just asked my doctor what she thought I should do and she said if I have proof of a measles vaccine, I’m covered. I was just going to go to CVS and get an MMR but if I don’t need it, i’m OK with that too.

[Mariana]

16. Some people were given the measles vaccine too early, before 12 months of age.

It's not as effective. I got measles because I was vaccinated in 1967 at 9 months old, and my vaccine failed. I got measles in 1973. At that time the doctors were calling in the kids who needed revaccination, but my last name started with a T and they hadn't got that far in the alphabet yet.

[Ilsa]

10. Get your measles titer checked. Your PCP can

order this.

I can understand why you might not want the MMR vax after having cancer and going through treatment.