In my nature, in my blood

[sovay]

And this year for Saint Patrick's Day I got a booster shot, because if I can't drive out the snakes from my local area (and I like snakes, so I wouldn't do that), at least I can avoid getting mumps.

(My last MMR booster was in 1992. I had bloodwork done last week to check whether the immunities were still active. Measles, yes; mumps and rubella, no. Interestingly, the last is still considered of special concern to female-bodied people of childbearing age. Either way, I don't want any.)

It will take about two weeks for my body to build up the necessary antibodies. Remind me not to get mumps before then.

In other news of the Outer Antipodes, derspatchel isn't immune to mumps either. He's getting his shot this afternoon. This is possibly more ridiculous than the fact that he can wear my glasses.

Comments

really immune to rubella

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

When we got married in 1980, Massachusetts still required a syphilis test before granting a license, and women were additionally required to be tested for rubella, presuming, I guess that babies are a result of marriage. When I was pregnant in 1987, I was tested again. When I went back to school in 2007, I was tested again (not just for rubella, but for all the things that I had before the shots were invented). There are lots of ailments that affect a fetus when the mother has them. I have no idea why there is the fixation on rubella.

[sovay]

I have no idea why there is the fixation on rubella.

The fetal complications are appalling. On its own, rubella is a relatively mild, if unpleasant disease, mostly comprising flu-like symptoms plus the characteristic rash; it's nastier if you catch it when older, and (like most diseases) it's bad for infants, but on the whole it's difficult to die from. The vaccine was developed not because of the inconvenience of itching for three days and staying in bed with a fever, but because of the effects on pregnancy. Miscarriages, stillbirths, children born with profound mental and physical disabilities; there are epidemics within living memory—a pandemic in the 1960's—and at least one case so high-profile it became Hollywood myth and Agatha Christie immortalized it in a Miss Marple mystery. So I think that's why.

I was honestly surprised to discover that Massachusetts no longer requires a blood test! I had it filed in the back of my head as a normal thing to go along with applying for a marriage license, but no more!

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

I remember a rather straight-laced acquaintance being huffy about the blood test: "Surely, they would take my word for it."

MMR is a noble thing. Sadly, anti-vaxxers are anti-persuaded by reason.

Stay well, both of you.

Nine

[sovay]

I remember a rather straight-laced acquaintance being huffy about the blood test: "Surely, they would take my word for it."

I don't take my word for anything! See above to asakiyume; I just checked my immunizations online to make sure there wasn't anything else I should have been asking for. Bodies are weird.