Thank you for all your information! I'm so grateful to have this as a resource during these confusing times. I was wondering if you had any information on the efficacy of the MMR vaccine at 6 months? I know it is being offered in some cases to babies in high risk areas. We are not currently in a high risk area but my baby is only 4 months currently so I forsee the virus spreading to our state soon (if not already). We had plans to travel this summer so wondering if the vaccine at 6 months is a viable option? Thank you in advance!
Your child can be vaccinated at 6 mo's frankly 4 mo's BUT if given it is not counted for long-term immunity & the child must receive 2 doses on or about the recommended age.
There is, however some evidence the long-term immunity for those vaccinated prior to 12 mo's may not equate to those who received their initial dose on or about 12 mo's.
Emily, thank you for your very relatable explanation.
I would add, acute measles result in approximately 70% loss of natural/vaccine memory... immune amnesia
This results in those who were infected being susceptible to a long list...not all...various bacteria/viruses for which there is no recognition upon re-exposure.
Granted, the estimated 1:10,000 who recover & succumb to a 2nd measle's infection as a result of dormant virus sequestered in the brain tissue, the outcome is fatal...SSPE
The latter statistic is granted rare yet a compounded tragedy for parents upon living the initial illness.
I received the MMR vaccine as a ?5 or 6 year old (1974) but the batch was bad and I, along with others who received a dose from this batch, was hospitalized with severe joint swelling: my knee was so swollen I was unable to walk.
Now I'm 55 and a colon cancer conqueror - with all the outbreaks I don't know if I need a booster, and I am unable to afford to get tested for titers of the vaxx.
Do you have any advice? I thought about contacting the CDC for their recommendation. Thoughts? I am concerned. Oh- I live in the Dallas, Texas area.
Your colon cancer Rx may have altered your immune memory for more than just measles...possibly enquire with your oncologist.
Thankfully your "conquered" your cancer yet I would consider yourself high risk & as a minimum you're a candidate for at least one if not 2 doses (vis-à-vis cancer Rx) MMR
You should be evaluated for being UpToDate for all recommended vaccinations
I was born in 1946. I remember the visceral fear surrounding polio, and the relief of my and all my friends’ parents as we stood in line to get the Salk vaccine at my elementary school. I was in 3rd grade. There was no MMR vaccine then , so I got measles, mumps, and rubella before 6th grade… and of course chicken pox. I can remember how sick I was. We all had scars on our arms or hips from smallpox vaccinations, and our parents made sure we understood how fortunate we were to have these vaccines to protect us. I was appalled when they discontinued pertussis in the tetanus, diphtheria shots. Thankfully, it’s back now. There are generations now with no memory of what it was like in the nineteen fifties and sixties when there were far fewer vaccines. It is really sad that we are now deliberately exposing ourselves to the diseases and deaths of the mid twentieth century. I hope that your very clear and very empathetic explanations encourage some parents to get their children, and maybe even themselves, vaccinated to get that herd immunity back to where it needs to be.
Thank you for all your information! I'm so grateful to have this as a resource during these confusing times. I was wondering if you had any information on the efficacy of the MMR vaccine at 6 months? I know it is being offered in some cases to babies in high risk areas. We are not currently in a high risk area but my baby is only 4 months currently so I forsee the virus spreading to our state soon (if not already). We had plans to travel this summer so wondering if the vaccine at 6 months is a viable option? Thank you in advance!
Your child can be vaccinated at 6 mo's frankly 4 mo's BUT if given it is not counted for long-term immunity & the child must receive 2 doses on or about the recommended age.
There is, however some evidence the long-term immunity for those vaccinated prior to 12 mo's may not equate to those who received their initial dose on or about 12 mo's.
JJF Phm 🇨🇦
Emily, thank you for your very relatable explanation.
I would add, acute measles result in approximately 70% loss of natural/vaccine memory... immune amnesia
This results in those who were infected being susceptible to a long list...not all...various bacteria/viruses for which there is no recognition upon re-exposure.
Granted, the estimated 1:10,000 who recover & succumb to a 2nd measle's infection as a result of dormant virus sequestered in the brain tissue, the outcome is fatal...SSPE
The latter statistic is granted rare yet a compounded tragedy for parents upon living the initial illness.
JJF Phm 🇨🇦
I received the MMR vaccine as a ?5 or 6 year old (1974) but the batch was bad and I, along with others who received a dose from this batch, was hospitalized with severe joint swelling: my knee was so swollen I was unable to walk.
Now I'm 55 and a colon cancer conqueror - with all the outbreaks I don't know if I need a booster, and I am unable to afford to get tested for titers of the vaxx.
Do you have any advice? I thought about contacting the CDC for their recommendation. Thoughts? I am concerned. Oh- I live in the Dallas, Texas area.
Your colon cancer Rx may have altered your immune memory for more than just measles...possibly enquire with your oncologist.
Thankfully your "conquered" your cancer yet I would consider yourself high risk & as a minimum you're a candidate for at least one if not 2 doses (vis-à-vis cancer Rx) MMR
You should be evaluated for being UpToDate for all recommended vaccinations
JJF Phm 🇨🇦
certified travel medicine consultant
I was born in 1946. I remember the visceral fear surrounding polio, and the relief of my and all my friends’ parents as we stood in line to get the Salk vaccine at my elementary school. I was in 3rd grade. There was no MMR vaccine then , so I got measles, mumps, and rubella before 6th grade… and of course chicken pox. I can remember how sick I was. We all had scars on our arms or hips from smallpox vaccinations, and our parents made sure we understood how fortunate we were to have these vaccines to protect us. I was appalled when they discontinued pertussis in the tetanus, diphtheria shots. Thankfully, it’s back now. There are generations now with no memory of what it was like in the nineteen fifties and sixties when there were far fewer vaccines. It is really sad that we are now deliberately exposing ourselves to the diseases and deaths of the mid twentieth century. I hope that your very clear and very empathetic explanations encourage some parents to get their children, and maybe even themselves, vaccinated to get that herd immunity back to where it needs to be.
Thanks, Emily, for all you are doing to debunk the false bunk being perpetrated. And in plain, reassuring language, too.
Thank you! I so appreciate your writings! I liked your book as well and have given it as gifts to friends!