germs versus prescription/vaccine

Is the OP recommending MMR jabs if planning to visit the USA?

Actually, the assumption is that those born before 1957 have immunity by actually having had measles (and mumps, but not rubella). However, if you are not sure that you actually had measles, then that may not apply to you.

Some measles vaccines given from 1963-1967 were less effective or ineffective, so revaccination is recommended in that case. Pre-1979 mumps vaccine has similar issues.

http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_mmr.asp

For an individual born before 1957, ask yourself (for each of measles, mumps, and rubella) whether you had the actual disease or have had the vaccine other than the less effective or ineffective types. If not, then it may be worth considering getting the vaccine.

Dunno about the OP, but I recommend MMR jabs as a matter of course whether you intend to travel or never leave town. The CDC also recommends it for anyone travelling overseas. I'm not aware of any national health system that does not recommend measles vaccination. Not required if you already have immunity from previous immunization or having had the disease of course.

Measles is a nasty virus that results in about 140,000 deaths a year, mostly in the developing world, add to that the ones who survive but have permanent hearing or neurological impairment and its not a pretty picture.

Anybody that tells you measles is just a nasty rash needs to pull their head out of their posterior.

I can already hear the lawyers salivating about the malpractice cases that might have been.

Your friends are, in a word, terrible people. By not vaccinating their kids they put at risk other kids who CAN'T get vaccinated because their own health is too fragile.

This thread reminds me I need to check up on my shot records and such. I do know I had the standard vaccines when I was a wee lad back in the mid 80's for measles and other so called childhood diseases. About 20 years ago when I was in middle school I had a hepatitis B vaccine that I had to get in 3 stages.

Wonder if these things wear off over time and you have to get them again?

Some of the vaccines do need to be repeated, some of them don't.

As to measles, you probably want to talk to your doctor, but a second measles shot is now recommended (wasn't when we were kids).

If you haven't kept up your tetanus boosters as an adult (every 10 years), you definitely want to get that updated.

I get recommended shots prior to travel.

I hadn't thought about a 2nd measles shot, but I suppose it's something I should investigate: I got mine in the 1970's.

I can't believe that people in a so-called educated, developed region of the world are still having discussions about whether or not to vaccinate for things like measles.

That's because we're three generations from people watching their neighbor's kids, their sister's kids, and their kids get deathly ill from these diseases that are so easily prevented.

It will take a generation's kids getting blinded, deafened, heart damage, nerve damage, or death. Then we'll get another 2-3 generations of universal vaccination.

Absolutely. I see no reason to get sick from something almost completely preventable. As was mentioned above, people quickly forget what it's like to watch people suffer or die all around them from things we can prevent these days. I've definitely picked up various sicknesses while traveling, I'd like to avoid the ones that only lurk in far away lands now.

Only think I probably need to update is my tetanus shot. I've had them, but I can't exactly pinpoint the year of the last one. I'm mega-immune from measles. I've had the original vaccine, booster when I went to college and I actually had the measles as an infant. I try to not even get into the argument with people right now in the measles debate. Anyone questioning vaccines can call my mother have her tell you what it was like to see her infant almost die from measles.

I travel extensively for work in far east, South East Asia, South Asia and Africa and I have all my jabs and when in malarial zone take the tablets (even though the people I visit including expats don't bother). Two years ago I came back from Malaysia with a cough which turned out to be atypical pneumonia and I was in hospital for 8 days and off work for a month plus phased return.

As a category, vaccines are one of the great success stories of modern medicine that have saved untold millions from needless suffering that historically was accepted as inevitable. I'm glad I live in a modern age and hope brilliant innovations in new vaccines will keep coming. Anyone intentionally turning their back on such a proven incredible modern success story is just plain acting stupid.

A wise precaution. I was in East Africa about a month ago. The colleague I was working with (who was from our Nigeria office) was clearly not feeling well. She just wrote me that she was back in the office after having dealt with both malaria and typhoid fever.

Hi guys, old thread, but relevant, I would be traveling around SE Asia for maybe 1 to 3 months. Just got a titer test and I am immune to MMR and all hepatitis.
So, researching : typhoid $120 one shot, Japanese Encephalitis 2 shots $375/shot total 750, Rabies 3 shots $380/each total 1140, Total 2085 with exam. Those for only 3 immunizations. I am not sure now how to prioritize as that seems like a lot of money but also I don't want to be ignorant. Going to Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodgia and Malyasia. Please share your thoughts on those countries. Thanks.

Are you planning to stay mostly around the cities or plan to do deep jungle trekking? If it mostly urban, for the countries you listed, you can skip most of the jabs you listed above IMO.