Regarding the measles outbreak on the West Coast, East Coast and in Vancouver--I went to my Dr. today to see if I needed a vaccination or update, etc. She found out from a previous titer that I have no immunization to measles in my system, so she recommended the MMR shot (Mumps, Measles, Rubeola).
Since her office does not treat children under 6, they don't have the vaccine, so I have to go to a Passport Health facility (a place that gives you shots for Dengue fever, etc., when you travel).
Called them and they say that with my "advanced age" I may require the shot and a booster, which have to be given 30 days apart. So, I am scheduled this Thursday for the MMR and they will determine then if I need to go back for the booster before I fly out on May 17th. She said it would be $105 for the shot and $45 for the office visit.
There was an interesting story on Good Morning America this morning talking about how many more cases of Measles there are in California right now than this same time next year. California (and some other states) does not require parents to immunize their kids against Measles.
My Dr. also said that there are some Pertussis outbreaks being reported (not sure just where), but she recommended and gave me a Tetanus-Pertussis vaccination.
I also got loaded up on all my drugs, including generic miclezine, and some things for just in case. Just thought this might be helpful to anyone that may not have had to think about immunizations recently.
One more thing--she also said regarding Norovirus and being on the ship--make sure you wash your hands with soap and water and rinse thoroughly. She said that hand sanitizer does not destroy the Norovirus
and haven't recovered from it since. I do know that i got the Tdap at the time and pertussis. Luckily DD (age 5) just got vax for MMR again to get into Kinder... anyway thanks for this post. Grandpa is coming with us on the cruise, and I might ask him to update his MMR shots.
