As caregiver to a loved one in a facility (AL, NH, MC,) have you checked on and followed through on their measles status? Were they conferred immune by having the measles? Did they have a vaccine many years ago? Will they need a booster, or another vaccine?
What about visitors to facilities who may be younger?
Are the staff (all staff) required to be up-to-date on vaccines?
As a caregiver, have you immunity for yourself?
What about those caregivers with elderly parents and children living at home?
How urgent do you consider reports of measles outbreaks in the world?
How do we decide to get our elderly immunized or not?
Without panic, or overly generalizing, have you thought about this, and do you have a plan?
The antibody titer (blood test) came back POSITIVE!
My hubs does have immunity to Rubeola,(measles), as shown by the presence of antibodies to the virus.
P.S. Always respectful of his rights and privacy, as well as HIPPA law requirements, I asked his permission to share his lab results.
I know I had Measles as a child, but I did not have Rubella and had to be vaccinated against that after I have my first child. Rubella is not the same as the Measles in the news today, but can cause a woman to lose a pregnancy.
My kids were born in the 80's and 90's and have chosen not to get the booster shop.
Do you know if it was rubella (German measles) or rubeola (measles?) that you had?
I was the kid who use to get childhood illnesses not during the school year [had perfect attendance] but during summer vacation :P
Guess we are all going to find out.
Maybe a nurse specialist in vaccines will show up on our thread.....
So interested to find out if elderly 65+ need to be tested, or even immunized.
Do not know about myself because I have not been to the doctor yet this year, therefore have not met the Medicare deductible. I am thinking about this.
Today, the news has reported: L.A. County is the second most vulnerable for a measles outbreak. Sorry, no further details.
Keep talking everyone.
Do not panic.
The HMO providers will be panicking because they likely did not appropriate titer blood tests in their budgets. They now have a measles recording when you call.
DH was required to have a doctor's appointment for the blood test. They put up blocks, asked in an intimidating manner why we thought he needed the test.
Could not find out if the test is covered by insurance.......it is still early, maybe no one "knows" yet.
quote:
"Rubella is not the same as measles (rubeola), though the two illnesses do share some characteristics, including the red rash. However, rubella is caused by a different virus than measles, and is neither as infectious nor usually as severe as measles.May 4, 2018"
Ah....love the measles facts. Hoping the internet is correct.
Disclaimer: You can do your own research.
When I was a babe, there were no vaccines for Measles, Mumps and Rubella. I got 2 of the 3 as a child. When my oldest was a babe a combo vaccine was given at 12 months.
Back then, moms sent their kids over to catch childhood diseases from others to get them over with because it’s worse if adults get it.
When I had chicken pox my I remember that my friend’s mom drove her son over to my house to spend time with me so he would be exposed to it.
Isn’t shingles related to chicken pox? I have heard that is very painful. It’s a virus, right? There’s a vaccine for that too.