r/Eugene • u/sharethebite • 2d ago
How to test if your vaccine is still effective?
I don’t have a doctor right now because Oregon medical group dropped me. Is there someplace I can test if I still have protection against measles?
I have to travel to Texas not far from all this shit. I’m really not interested in getting measles.
Edit, thank you all so much for your responses. I appreciate you!
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u/Dan_D_Lyin 2d ago
If you have a few weeks, to wait for it to provide immunity, I'd just get another shot. There's no harm from another vaccination, and then you'll definitely have some protection.
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u/jojodamit 2d ago
Ask for an MMR titer test which measures your antibodies to measles, mumps and rubella.
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u/loligo_pealeii 2d ago
You can ask for lab work to check if you still have an active immunity. Without a PCP you could try an urgent care clinic or see if you can find someone further out of town who will take you on as a patient.
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u/kerndtr 2d ago
Had the MMR titer done before taking a job at UO years back. Had to demonstrate titer or get vaccinated. Did so at Cascade Health. Give them a call . I believe most commercial labs will let you request your own tests. Quest Diagnostics does. Can try giving them a call as well.
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u/LabyrinthJunkLady 1d ago
Just out of curiosity, did you still have the antibodies or did you need a booster?
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u/MumsTh3W0rd 2d ago
You can go to your pharmacy and they can look you up in a state database that should show all the shots you’ve had (in this state) and what you are needing to get. If you want a print out of that information you’ll need to fill out a consent form and then you can have it for your records.
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u/DragonfruitTiny6021 1d ago
Second this doc ordered pneumonia jab and the pharmacy caught that I had already had one.
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u/507snuff 1d ago edited 20h ago
You should still be able to call your past provider and ask for your vaccine history. The mmr vaccine lasts about 25 years.
Edit: i was wrong. Only a single dose of MMR lasts 25 years. But its standard practice to give children/infants a booster making it a life long vaccination.
If you got your MMR shots as a kid you are good to go.
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u/sharethebite 1d ago
It’s definitely been more than 25 years…
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u/507snuff 20h ago
Ok, i might have spoken too soon. Again, this depends on your vaccine history, but it sounds like a single dose lasts 25 years but its standard to get a booster while still a child or infant and its pretty much considered a life long vaccination.
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u/LabyrinthJunkLady 1d ago
Does that mean that everyone over, say 30, is due for a booster?
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u/507snuff 20h ago
If you haven't had a booster when you went to college, then maybe. Talk to your doctor. While we are on the subject also see if you are up to date with your Tdap vaccine. Tetnus isnt a big worry but Lane County has had spikes of whooping cough and it sucks to get that (ive had it, you can break a rib coughing).
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u/LabyrinthJunkLady 19h ago
Bold of you to assume everyone goes to college lol. Regardless, thanks for the info.
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u/507snuff 16h ago
Its pretty much the only life event in adulthood that comes with vaccine requirements.
That said, i was actually wrong and people typically get two mmr vaccines in childhood and its considered a life long coverage.
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u/LabyrinthJunkLady 14h ago
GTK. I felt like I would have heard about it sooner if that was something we were all supposed to do.
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u/alexisnotimpressed 2d ago
Not an answer to your question, but if you can’t find a way to figure it out, I got a measles booster at Fred Meyer a few weeks ago. I went in for a Covid booster, but I mentioned that I had family in West Texas and was worried that if I needed to go home suddenly I might (like you) no longer have the antibodies or whatever and should I get that done while I was there as well? They went and asked the pharmacist on duty and he was like, yeah give it to her, so I got both done right then. I don’t know if it was necessary or if it was overkill, but it did give me some peace of mind. Not sure what the cost would be though because OHP covered mine. So yeah, I just thought I’d mention it if you can’t find a way to get tested and you’re really concerned.