Brad writes:
Greetings Vincent and Daniel!
My wife, son and I are huge TWIV fans. You kept us afloat at the height of the pandemic. Thank you for continuing to provide us all with important information.
Our question for you today is about the measles vaccine.
I was born in 1959, and my wife was born in 1960, I had the measles as a child, but my wife did not, and because she was brought up in Latin America, it is unclear if she even received the less potent measles vaccine.
Because we were both after the 1957 cutoff date where the CDC considers people immune from measles, and before 1968 when the more effective measles vaccine became available, we would both be candidates for an MMR “booster.”
The complicating factor for us, is that I receive regular infusions of a biologic (Infliximab), thus making live-virus vaccines no longer an option for me, for now. Fortunately, I had measles as a child.
Our question, however, is about my wife. I think she should go ahead and get the MMR vaccine, but she’s concerned that by getting a live-virus vaccine, she could put me at risk if she were to shed the virus afterwards..
What do you think? Is there a meaningful chance that my wife could infect me if she receives the measles vaccine?
We look forward to your response.
Thank you!
Brad and Kristina
Debra writes:
I have a question for Daniel Griffin. This is about the measles Vaccination or MMR that is available. I am sure I am not the only person to whom this may be relevant. I am one of the many born in the early 1960’s who may have received the weaker of the measles vaccinations and are now 65 or older, so my understanding is that it is recommended to get a measles “booster” now in case of the measles outbreak spreading to our communities. OK.
As you might or might not be aware, CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) is the most common chronic blood cancer in this age group. Many of us are at the beginning stages of our chronic cancer. I am. At diagnosis, we are told to not get any live attenuated vaccines, due to the hit our immune systems will take. I am not talking about from cancer treatment, but just from the natural (often slow) progression of the disease. However, note the luckiest among us will never need treatment and will die of something else like another cancer to which we will be susceptible or to infections.
So, my question is, for those of us who are not yet having symptoms and are on “Watch and Wait” for CLL and not needing cancer treatment for it yet. Is there a situation some of us might have with low CLL numbers in our blood, (and not that much else abnormal) that we can safely still get the live measles vaccination as a booster? Better to get it now when my immune system is still relatively healthy than to wait until measles is in my community and I’d have to isolate for the rest of my life and never get on a plane or have a vacation or fly to see my grown children and future grandkids. How much risk would there be to getting the vaccine ASAP before my numbers get worse?
Is there any guidance from Infectious Disease about what to measure to see if my immune system is healthy enough to deal with this vaccine – and sooner, rather than later!!
Desperately,
Debra
Susan writes:
Dear Dr. Griffin and Dr. Racaniello,
Thank you for continuing your honest and always informative weekly TWiV podcasts in spite of the current climate of assault on science and truth. I am a loyal listener.
I hope you don’t mind a question regarding Zika.
May 30th my pregnant daughter in law will be vacationing in Bermuda for a few days. She will be ~27 weeks at that time.
Do you know if Zika or any other infections that could impact her pregnancy are a concern in Bermuda?
I don’t see current information regarding Zika on the CDC site.
With the ongoing attempts to weaken the CDC I didn’t expect it to necessarily have current information.
I SO appreciate all that you do. Please stay well and happy. We all need you.
Susan