General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYou should probably check this out about measles if you are middle aged
When I heard about this latest outbreak, I wondered about the vaccine gap from 1957 to 1971. I heard about it from the shot nurse at a travel clinic a few years ago. It's a 14 year span, so conceivably this leaves millions potentially at risk.
I thought this problem was well known, but after reading so many "burn the witch" posts, I suspect most people never heard of it. Travel clinics are quite up to date with vaccine info. Maybe try them for quick conversation if you were of shot age during those years.
The way some are carrying on you'd think drug companies never screw up. They do. That's not an argument against vaccines, that's an argument to stop sounding like an authoritarian fool. Arrogance is dangerous on both sides of the vaccination debate.
I couldn't find more information about the brands at fault, ranges of potency, etc. Would be appreciate an update if anyone has more detailed info.
I added emphasis.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/01/20/doctor-suspects-measles-inflicted-disney-employees-never-had-full-vaccination/
The figures of the virus continue to increase after visitors to the Disneyland park started falling ill last month.
Angela Vassallo of Providence St. Johns Infection Prevention and Epidemiology says she thinks she may know why these individuals may have still been stricken, despite claims of vaccination.
My suspicion is that, if they were vaccinated, they only received one dose, the first dose of the vaccine, and didnt check their immunity and didnt get the second dose of the vaccine, Vassallo said.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends two doses of the measles vaccine. Most children born after 1971, the year the vaccine was created, received the first dose at age 1, and the second dose at age 4.
Vassallo says that once the vaccine is administered, it lasts for a lifetime.
Those born before 1957 are likely already immune, according to Vassallo. This is because theyve been exposed to the measles. However, she recommends people born between 1957 and 1971 to check their immunization records.
Anyone born between 1957 and 1971, you definitely want to check, because the vaccines that were created in the 60s, at least one we found later, didnt work, Vassallo said.
Doctors are able to perform a simple test for anyone who is in question over their immunity.
They take blood specimens and look at your titers to see if you have immunity to the disease, Vassallo described. If not, then they start that two-dose regimen.
Recent figures show the total of measles cases in California to be 53.
This number, Vassallo says, is cause for great concern.
For one sick person, about 90 percent of people around them who dont have immunity will pick up the disease.
Vassallo says that pregnant women, women trying to get pregnant or people with weakened immune systems should not receive vaccinations.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)Same for Mumps and Rubella.
I had chickenpox. My only desire at age 52 is to convince my doctor she should let me have the shingles vaccine early. I'll even promise to get it again at age 65.
xmas74
(29,676 posts)We were discussing this whole "thing" about vaccinations and one of my coworkers mentioned the shingles vaccine. He said his wife just got it done and that, though unpleasant, at least she probably won't get shingles. He had his first shingles outbreak at forty five and said it was horrible.
Once he said "forty-five" I perked up. I'd planned on getting it when I'm of age but after hearing his story I want it now!
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)My mother and my little brother have both had shingles.
Since my younger brother had it, I hope it'll convince her to prescribe one for me.
I'd even be willing to pay full price for it.
xmas74
(29,676 posts)It's not awful-about $220 full price at Walgreen's. (I figured a national chain would give me an idea of what to expect.) I could put some money back for that.
Now, to convince them that I really should have it...
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)is that they don't often confer permanent immunity. Which is why boosters are needed. I'm glad I'm old enough to have gotten measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox. Glad my kids were vaccinated for the first three, although they're old enough they got chicken pox. Glad I was getting DPT shot as a child. And polio vaccination of course.
Actually, it's probably been over fifty years since I had a polio vaccination, and I wonder if I should get a booster for that. Or is that a rare vaccine that does confer permanent immunity?
Hekate
(90,793 posts)When whooping cough became resurgent in California I asked my doc about a DPT booster; as I told him, my daughter has small children of her own as well as operating a preschool.
Daemonaquila
(1,712 posts)In many cases, they really don't know. BUT, here's a list of common ones:
Chicken Pox - 10 years (possibly life)
Cholera (oral vaccine) - 2 years
Diphtheria - 10 years
Flu vaccine (Fluvax) - 1 year
Hepatitis A (Vaqta / Havrix/Twinrix) - 20 years (possibly longer)
Hepatitis B (HBVax II/Engerix B/Twinrix) - life
Japanese B Encephalitis - 3 years
Measles, Mumps, Rubella - 15 years (possibly life)
Meningitis (Menomune/Mencevax) - 1-3 years
Pneumonia (Pneumovax) - 5 years (possibly life)
Polio (Sabin) - 10 years (possibly life)
Polio (IPV) - 10 years (possibly life)
Rabies (pre exposure) - 10 years (possibly life)
Tetanus - 10 years
Typhoid - 3 years
Yellow Fever - 10 years
http://www.traveldoctor.co.nz/vaccinations.aspx
I love how they say "possibly life" for a lot of these. All it means is that you should check your titer after a certain number of years.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)With some diseases the limited length of effectiveness of the vaccines became apparent very quickly, as those limits were reached But polio was so quickly eradicated in this country, what with the mass immunizations as soon as the first vaccines became available, and that's how I got my first ones, that a limit to the effectiveness might not have shown up as it has with others.
I've always known you need to get the DPT every ten years. I last had one about five years ago.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)So this confuses me.
My sister got the measles in the 60's. Soon after, my friends were rounded up by my parents and taken off to get the measles vaccine.
I was so pissed off at my sister.
greatlaurel
(2,004 posts)The age limit for shingles is silly. I have known more people under 50 who got shingles than the elderly. Shingles should be paid for anyone who wants it. Shingles is really horrible.
Barack_America
(28,876 posts)I did. Had to repeat the series.
gopiscrap
(23,765 posts)but only one vaccination. Wondering if I should get a shot or two
ladyVet
(1,587 posts)I was born in 1958, and missed getting most vaccines because I got the diseases before there were shots for them. I've never had a doctor talk to me about needing any booster shots, though. I guess if I ever get to have a physical I can ask and see what they think.
We just got my sister out of the hospital, she was there three days because she got shingles and it was in her eye. She's 42, but has no spleen so she gets sick a lot. She's going to ask about the shingles vaccine, as are my parents who also have compromised immune systems).
Skittles
(153,193 posts)I remember those military shots