Measles avoidance???

So word on the street (or rather, chronic disease Twitter) is that measles outbreaks are probably coming to a town near each of us, if they haven't reached us yet. Measles is VERY contagious and also can have really bad outcomes.

But the MMR vaccine is a live vaccine, which makes it a poor choice for immunocompromised people. I'm seeing different guidance, too. The CDC says "persons with most forms of altered immunocompetence" shouldn't receive an MMR because they could get sick from it. But other health entities say only those who are "seriously immunocompromised" need to worry about it.

Two doses of the MMR in the past is supposed to provide protection for life, but I'm seeing reports from folks who've had their titres checked that this isn't always the case.

So: I'm thinking about asking my doctor to have my titres checked, but I'm also worried that if my measles protection is low, I won't be able to get a vaccine anyway (I'm on Entyvio, which isn't systemic immune suppression by any means, but I don't trust my doctors here to have good information).

My questions: has anyone received guidance on this matter from trustworthy doctors?

In U.S. info sources the Mayo Clinic Online has a good presentation under "Rubella", including MMR issues. It states that one's immunity can be tested by bloods or viral culture to determine the need for vaccination, and their emphasis RE adults mainly concerns pregnancy and travel considerations. I can attest to having a terrible case of Rubeola at age 6, when high fever made me delirious and I vomited about a cup of mucus one evening. Then my eyes were still extra-sensitive to light for a good while after I could finally get up from bed in a darkened room. It was a physically weakening siege. Then I had Rubella at age 11 and again at 20!!!! The Rubella attacks hit me when I hadn't been knowingly exposed to an infected patient, plus I had survived a wave of infection in my college dorm in good health, then fell ill a year later, following a visit to a public playground swing-set which was empty of people at the time. This 2nd Rubella attack gave me a more irritating rash than the first one. The Mayo article says that one is "usually" immune lifelong from Rubeola and Rubella after infection with each or the RXed dosage of MMR vaccine. A couple weeks ago I happened to see 2 college-age females opt for use of a public playground where elementary schoolchildren had just finished their recess exercising on equipment there 10 minutes earlier-- so I got reminded of my 2nd Rubella attack decades back, before MMR was available! I do think that Rubeola permanently changed my energy level for the worse and also made my eyes more sensitive permanently to glare so the vaccine is definitely a blessing for those born after 1957, especially. / Old Hat (40+ years with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)

Prior to starting Entyvio in fall 2022 I had bloodwork to check for measles immunity and was told that I had immunity. I’m 66 and either had measles or the vaccinations as a child, not sure which. With re: Serenity’s question - I’m guessing that if I’m immune, it doesn’t matter how many shots we’re given to achieve that immunity back in the day. I don’t know if that’s correct though, and if the immunity is relative. Very interested to hear what anyone hears from their doctors. Meanwhile, for me, especially while travelling and around kids, I'll be resuming Covid-type protocols in crowded spaces - masks and hand washing, and fingers crossed.

PS Serenity - because I have relocated many times (internationally) I needed to dig up my childhood vaccine record, so I contacted my childhood GP and they had all my vaccines from birth on record and sent me a printout. When I lived in Germany they gave me a little yellow book to record my vaccines, I still use it now (when I remember to bring it to the appointment 🙈🤣)

Thanks folks! I had two shots as a child in the States and luckily had a little card with all my records that my Canadian province input into their electronic records.

I'm not sure if I could get the MMR now, on Entyvio, but I will still ask my doctor about having my titres checked. At least it could tell me how cautious to be if an outbreak occurs.

I spend a lot of time in small classrooms with ill young people, so I'm still wearing kn95 masks in those settings anyway. I'm hoping that will help, but also hoping it stays out of my kids' school (they're vaccinated, but 97% protection isn't the same as 100%, and we haven't always been the luckiest).

Here's hoping we all stay good and healthy!