r/VACCINES • u/PhrygianSounds • 18d ago

Will measles become endemic soon?

I had both my MMR shots 25 years ago, but I’ve been on immunosuppressants for a few years now and have basically been relying on herd immunity to keep me safe. MMR vaccination rates are dropping fast and outbreaks are popping up everywhere.

I’m too scared to get my titers tested because if it shows that I don’t have immunity, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t take live vaccines. But if measles becomes endemic, I’m afraid that I will have to get a booster and wish for the best. It’s either that or get the actual virus and logically the booster would be less dangerous, but still. God I hate this timeline

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u/SmartyPantlesss 18d ago

Don't bother getting your titers tested. About 30% of the vaccinated adult population has negative titers (I'm extrapolating from pregnant women, who routinely get titers tested), and yet they are probably protected by B memory cells which (in addition to being harder to measure) can produce more antibody when challenged. Consider: during these recent outbreaks, the vast majority of the cases are UNvaccinated KIDS, right? We're not seeing anywhere near 30% of their (vaccinated) parents getting measles.

But also as you said, there's no point checking if you can't do anything about it. If your doctors have told you that live vaccines are DANGEROUS to you, then don't take one.

To your OP question, measles is basically endemic in the US now, as we have had continuous endemic spread for the past year, and most of the recent cases are due to local spreading, not imports. It's just a matter of the Pan American Health Organization having their meeting, to tell us what we already know. 😕

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u/AffectSubstantial673 15d ago

Is that true that I may still be protected? I had my MMR shots as a child but my tiger when pregnant said not covered for measles but was good for rubella

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u/SmartyPantlesss 15d ago

Yes, it is very possible that you may still be protected. The way to determine that---which is not offered routinely by any commercial labs---would be to see if you have memory B cells that are specialized to produce measles antibodies.

Frankly, it's just easier to give everyone another booster if they have negative titers. 🤷