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Measles vaccine for seniors?

Posted by dtgt @dtgt, Feb 28, 2025

Is it needed, given that the vaccine wasn’t available when we were children? I am 77.

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joanland | @joanland | Mar 29, 2025
In reply to @methel "I’m old enough that I had the “red” measles, the “German”’measles, mumps and chicken pox. May..." + (show)
Profile picture for methel @methel

I’m old enough that I had the “red” measles, the “German”’measles, mumps and chicken pox. May have missed whooping cough and polio which some friends had caught. Only knew one person who had ever had smallpox. My great aunt was made permanently deaf as an 8 year old by the measles.

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I, too, had mumps and chicken pox. I escaped polio and whooping cough, and I can't think of anyone who had smallpox. So sorry to hear of the effects of measles on your great aunt.

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methel | @methel | Mar 29, 2025
In reply to @joanland "I, too, had mumps and chicken pox. I escaped polio and whooping cough, and I can't..." + (show)
Profile picture for joanland @joanland

I, too, had mumps and chicken pox. I escaped polio and whooping cough, and I can't think of anyone who had smallpox. So sorry to hear of the effects of measles on your great aunt.

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Thank you; measles permanently altered my aunt’s life. The person who survived smallpox years before I was born was related to my grandfather’s cousin and was one of my babysitters.

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ruby2zdy | @ruby2zdy | Apr 6, 2025
In reply to @sillyblone "Hello. Medicare pays for a bone density every other year. Can't you ask your physician for..." + (show)
Profile picture for sillyblone @sillyblone

Hello. Medicare pays for a bone density every other year. Can't you ask your physician for some blood work pertaining to what may be going on. Let your physician know your symptoms. Blood work cannot be added to your Medicare yearly physical. It would have to be done prior to that. Take care.

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She finally agreed to let me get a DEXA scan.

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ksdm | @ksdm | Apr 7, 2025

I had measles (as well as mumps and chicken pox), so I believe I shouldn't need a vaccine.

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jersie | @jersie | Apr 17, 2025
In reply to @seniormed "This is a timely question for current breakout in Texas. It is an extremely contagious disease..." + (show)
Profile picture for seniormed @seniormed

This is a timely question for current breakout in Texas. It is an extremely
contagious disease readily spreading. Fortunately seniors have been exposed
to the natural infection prior to the advent of the vaccine. If we grew up in
the 40s and fifties we had multiple exposures and likely natural infections
with variable degree of symptoms. Natural immunity is thought to remain robust enough for most seniors to be protected. That being said my wife and
I contracted whooping cough when we were in our 60s after visiting an area
with lots of anti- vaccine people during an outbreak. If you have concerns
that you are the 1% unprotected your doctor can order a blood test to check your immune titer. I did do RSV this year and I’m due for my last tetanus
immunization at age 77.

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Did you do a titer for tetanus. I did a few years ago. I was in my early 60's when I did and my immunity was ten times the amount necessary to be immune.

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methel | @methel | Feb 6 4:30pm
In reply to @cctb "Those of you born in 1957, please let us know what your doctor says!! I know..." + (show)
Profile picture for cctb @cctb

Those of you born in 1957, please let us know what your doctor says!! I know I had measles! Probably around 1962 to 63!

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@cctb

My older son, born in 1967, was concerned enough that he had a measles titer done. I was sure he would have gotten whatever vaccine was available, but the first measles vaccine apparently wasn’t so effective as the later ones. His immune response was ok.

I remember those measles days, and I also remember that the older you were when you got measles, the sicker you became.

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pb50 | @pb50 | Feb 6 6:31pm
In reply to @willow5 "I was wondering when born in the early 50s, getting the vaccine, what was the life..." + (show)
Profile picture for willow5 @willow5

I was wondering when born in the early 50s, getting the vaccine, what was the life expectancy at that time, and does that reach the expectancy of how long the vaccine will last. I think getting a titer is a good idea!

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@willow5 I don’t think there was a vaccine in the 50’s. Most of us just had the disease. I did aak my pharmacist if ai needed a vaccine as a booster since I had a very hard case of the disease. Her answer was no.

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pb50 | @pb50 | Feb 6 6:33pm
In reply to @elikimayo "and truly, how in the world would we know what shots we got as kids, other..." + (show)
Profile picture for elikimayo @elikimayo

and truly, how in the world would we know what shots we got as kids, other than the old polio vaccine scar on shoulder?

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@elikimayo thats your smallpox vaccine scar 🙂

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pb50 | @pb50 | Feb 6 6:34pm
In reply to @pb50 "@elikimayo thats your smallpox vaccine scar :)" + (show)
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@elikimayo thats your smallpox vaccine scar 🙂

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The polio vaccine was a dropperful of a pink liquid on a sugar cube.

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westwoman3698 | @westwoman3698 | Feb 7 1:36pm

I got MMR vaccine several months ago because, at age 77 was moving to a house where owner ran in-house pre-school for ages 2-5. More for own protection (have several immune deficiency diseases), but also for protection of kids. Was rather ill for about a week, then fine. Had measles in early 1950s but wanted to be safe.

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