MEASLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MooseMom]

No, I don't have them.

However, I'm a tad concerned that I, along with the rest of the immunosuppressed post-tx population, could get them.

I am sure I received all of my vaccinations when I was school aged.  However, I somehow managed to get the mumps as an adult around 20 years ago.  It was not pretty.

I've just consulted my nifty neat-o Immunization Chart give to me by my tx center, and it says that it is NOT safe to have the MMR AFTER transplant.

So my question is this:  do the immunosuppressants we take degrade the immunity to measles (or anything else, for that matter) we have built up over the years as a result of having been vaccinated years ago?

Thanks for any info!

[Rerun]

You can go get a blood test that will tell you your Measles level of immunity (I didn't say that right) but there is a blood test.

At least you would know if you never leave your home again or if you are safe to join society.

I left a message with my GP today to get the blood test.  For me if I'm not up to snuff I'll get the booster.  I don't have a transplant.

[Deanne]

I'm worried about it, too. I'm a bit surprised that they didn't require this vaccine before we got our transplants. It's good to know there's a test for our immunity level though. I see my transplant docs next week and will try to remember to ask about it.

[MooseMom]

I emailed my coordinator in the hopes that she can look at my pre-tx labs and see if immunity to measles is one thing they checked for (probably not).  But that does not answer the question about whether or not meds affect immunity NOW!  I have my annual appointment coming up in May so will have to have mega-labs done in April, so maybe they can add a measles blood test.  But even if it comes back as showing I have no immunity, what could I do about it?

[cattlekid]

I think we got tested for Measles immunity as part of our pre-transplant labs.  But maybe that was with Northwestern when I first listed.

What day are you going to UW for your appointment in May?  Mine is May 12....maybe we can carpool.   

[MooseMom]

Cattlekid, oh so close!  Mine is 9 May!  My husband is taking the day off, and we're going to make a long weekend out of it. 

I got the following email from my tx coordinator just now.  This is what they are telling their patients:

  We do not advise measles vaccination for transplant recipients due to the fact that it is a live virus

·         People born prior to 1957 have presumptive immunity as well as those who have had two or more shots or had measles in their lifetime

·         Related to the outbreak - The majority of the people who got measles were unvaccinated.

·         If true exposure from close contact with someone with documented measles,  they would need to be seen by PCP for post exposure prophylaxis in the form of IM immune globulin

[jeannea]

I find the whole thing rather unnerving as well. This is the way I understand it. Transplant does not remove our vaccine immunity the way certain types of chemo might. They should have gone over your history before transplant to make sure you were up to date. I got an MMR booster in college. They discovered the vaccine used in the early 70s wasn't holding out and some campuses had measles outbreaks. We were all told to get boosters. So I should still have measles vaccine immunity. Now no vaccine prevents 100% of cases. Our immunity is reduced by the medicines we take. It is easier to catch something. But even if you were to get measles, it should not be as bad a case as someone never vaccinated.

I am not happy with our current anti-science society. I am not happy that a bunch of jerks could end up killing people. However, back to us. Your chance of getting measles is still low. Your chance of flu is higher and can also kill you. The best thing you can do is listen to your body. If you have a fever, see a doctor. If you have a rash, see a doctor. If you have trouble breathing, see a doctor. Wash your hands. All the standard stuff you already know well. I know the feeling of wanting to stay home and never interact with anyone.

Someone in my niece's school district has pertussis. They sent a letter home. The student is in the high school. But that student has younger siblings in other schools and they won't tell us which schools. Real helpful.

I truly hope we can all stay safe.