Can you prove you had the MMR or that you had measles?
Asked by
JLeslie (
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April 26th, 2019
from iPhone
There is a quarantine at two California universities, because of this recent measles outbreak. From what I understand, students and professors who have proof of having had MMR were not quarantined.
Do you have your record of immunization? How old are you? I don’t have that handy, maybe my mom still has the record for me in a drawer somewhere. I know I was vaccinated, I assume I only received one dose, since I was born in 1968. As you know, the recommendation changed to two doses sometime in the 80’s (I think it was the 80’s) although, since I was under military care at ages 9–22. I possibly had a different schedule, because the military does all sorts of stuff differently, but I don’t remember getting any shots in the 80’s, except tetanus in ‘89—‘90 timeframe.
I happen to know my rubella immunity was very good ten years ago, but that doesn’t necessarily mean my measles protection is very good, it doesn’t even mean my German measles immunity is still good, but my assumption is both are fine.
If you are over 50 and only had one dose, are you inclined to get another now?
Do you have your records handy if the CDC or WHO come knocking on your door?
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25 Answers
There are tests that can be run to see if one has the antibodies, but I heard they are expensive.
I had measles as a child so that is not a concern, although I never had a rubella (“German measles”) vaccination. I moved back to California when I was ten after a couple years in NY State, and was shocked to learn in school that kids had German Measles! What kind of place is this?
I live around the corner from my kids’ pediatrician, and I also have a copy of their immunization record. They are up to date on everything.
I was thinking about that this morning when I saw that story. I had measles as a young child, so no documentation, I would have to be tested. Ugh.
I don’t have my records. When I was little, everything was on paper (as computers were not used for this purpose yet – I know that makes me sound ancient but I was born in the mid 1960’s). The actual record is somewhere in my mom’s paperwork.
I cannot get vaccines currently because I had Guillain Barre Syndrome, and the neurologist told me never to get vaccines again. Guillain Barre can kill so it’s definitely not something to play with, and not a chance I’m willing to take.
^^^^The reason why it is important for everyone else to get vaccinated; herd immunity is only way to protect people like @jca2 who can’t get a vaccine.
FYI: My husband recently did the tetanus titer (test for immunity) and I think it was right around $100, probably measles is around the same.
@canidmajor If you have the record of the diagnosis when you were a child it would suffice as well as the vaccination record I would assume.
Although, when my husband was becoming a citizen in America, they just shot him up with “everything” (same things happen to a Canadian friend of mine). Actually, I think my husband maybe had some partial records. When he traveled a lot to Europe and Latin America the doctor shot him up with a bunch of stuff for travel too. That was back in the 90’s.
@zenvelo Yeah, but @jca2 was most likely vaccinated as a child, so she is probably immune luckily.
I have my immunization records as I found all of ours when my mom died. I did have the measles and the German measles and was vaccinated for both. I don’t know the time frame of getting them though.
@chyna So, just the one dose then? Is that right? I wonder if the quarantine is requiring the students to have the whole series to be able to leave.
@JLeslie I had measles before there was a vaccine. It was in the days that people didn’t always tell the pediatrician, if the symptoms were in a perfectly normal range for a healthy child. And no one remembers the name of the pediatrician we had in Denver in the 50s, and those records, if there were any, are probably long gone by now, anyway.
I’ll look when I get home. I can’t remember.
I had measles when I was 9. Had MMR, and vaccine for Hep A and B; ten years ago before going on vacation in the Caribbean. I’m in my 70’s.
Yes, records are in house safe.
@canidmajor That makes sense that you might not have been brought to the doctor, I didn’t even think of that. I don’t think we went to the doctor when we had chicken pox.
I would not expect a doctor to have the record, I was just thinking maybe your mom held onto the record if there was one.
I have my immunization records. I got the measles vaccine when I was a kid.
So I checked. I’m really surprised. I did not have an MMR. Apparently, that was after my time as a child. Hopefully, having had measles will be sufficient coverage?
@chyna If you had the measles why did you think you had the vaccine?
I thought every kid had the vaccine when they were kids! Apparently not.
@chyna I don’t remember how old you are, but adults over a certain age often were not vaccinated, it was assumed they had measles as children. Do you remember having the measles? Mumps?
I think measles vaccine started being given out in the early to mid 60’s. It was changed in the 70’s, because the first vaccine that was released had too many problems. Later (late 80’s or early 90’s maybe) they started recommending the second dose on the schedule, because there were some outbreaks among kids with only one dose.
People who were already adults by the 90’s likely never got a second dose.
People who were assumed, or who reported they had measles didn’t get vaccinated even as kids. No need.
I don’t remember my parents ever talking about having measles, and maybe they weren’t vaccinated, they might be vulnerable. I know my mom had pertussis and mumps as a child and chicken pox. My dad I only know he had chicken pox. I know they were both vaccinated for small pox, my mom twice, she has no mark. They told her she is probably naturally immune. I assume they both had polio vaccines also.
@JLeslie, yes, just one dose for regular measles. I’m due next year for another (as an adult), and I also got a vaccination for rubella (German measles) when I was about 10.
@Kardamom Oh, you are going to get the second dose now? Did your doctor recommend it?
You can get a titre checked. If it’s low then you can get a vaccine. Or just get a vaccine for grins and giggles
@JLeslie, I will get a booster next year, on the advice of my doctor.
I believe to work or attend school at a university, you have to have your immunizations on file. If you cannot prove you have had an immunization, you can either get it again and provide documentation or have a titer drawn.
Since I attend school and work at a university, my immunization records are readily available through our online system. I also periodically review my immunization records with my PCP (which I initiate).
I have never had a PCP ask me about vaccinations as an adult, except the flu vaccine.
I generally agree, @JLeslie, which is why I indicated that I initiate the conversation. Things change with pregnancy/postpartum and university involvement, though.
Pregnant/postpartum women have their vaccine history reviewed and are encouraged to get Tdap. I’ve been through that a couple times in the last decade.
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