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I had the measles as a child. Am I now immune?

By Anonymous February 11, 2015 - 4:52pm
 
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Anonymous

My name is Arthur I am 55 years of age - back in the 70's when I was a kid in elementary school I got the mumps once - chickenpox twice - & the measles twice. I was vaccinated back then. Do I still need to be vaccinated now? Because I live in Brooklyn NY & they're urging kids of the Jewish orthodox community to get their kids vaccinated but I am not Jewish I am a black male 55 years of age. Do I still need to be vaccinated?

April 10, 2019 - 6:30am
HERWriter Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello Arthur

You cannot get measles twice so you may be confused at what you had. You may have had measles and also what is called German measles, a variation of rubella. You don't get that twice either. The body becomes immune to a second infection.

You will not need to be immunized again.

Best,
Susan

April 10, 2019 - 1:09pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to SusanC)

Susan,

I had hard red German measles once, when I was 6 months old in 1957. In grade school, I had rubella, three day measles five times. Everyone said I couldn’t, but I did. I also had mumps, just the one time, and then chicken pox twice. I know. I remember. Everyone says you can’t, but I did.

April 14, 2020 - 4:01pm
HERWriter Guide (reply to Anonymous)

That's interesting, Anon.

There's still a lot we don't know about viruses (as is obvious these days).

Best,
Susan

April 15, 2020 - 4:27am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I had measles mumps and chickenpox in 1966 and 1967 and still had to get MMR before I started the first grade in 1967? Why did I have to get vaccinated against something I already came down with ? I also came down with shingles in 2006

September 8, 2018 - 8:09am
Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello, Anon.

Rather than presume immunity, and because it was required for all children to be vaccinated in order to enter school, you still had to be vaccinated. If you've already had measles, your body has built up its immune system to fight the infection, and you can't get measles again.

When people get chickenpox, the virus remains in the body. It can be reactivated years later and cause shingles if someone's immune system is weakened or with aging.

Helena

September 8, 2018 - 4:13pm
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