Titer and vaccines question?!

[Domo231]

For the college I'm trying to take the nursing program it requires titers, but I was wondering would I need to get vaccine again for mmr if I got it in 1997 or could I just get titer? Would the titer still be positive after such a long time. Sorry I just have like 3 weeks left till application period is over and that's the only vaccine I didn't start. And the college I'm trying to take it in doesn't seem to have much info and they are never at their office?

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Some of my vaccines were 40 yrs ago and the titers still showed immunity.

[RN9742]

If your titer comes back not showing immunity, you will have to get a "booster" or go through the series again. I did not have my shot records any longer so I had titers drawn, I did not show immunity for Rubella, so had to get a booster.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

the date has nothing to do with it as each persons immune system is different (and will change within that person to!). Basically, you either are immune or you aren't and the titer is designed to tell you which. I have people complain about Hep B titers because they had all three vaccines. That does not prove your immunity. Same with other diseases.

Remember, there are MANY diseases, but only some have vaccines and that is because at some time it was determined these disease are virulent enough to wipe out populations. That means immunity is important. As a nurse you will be exposed to all sorts of people, and you want to stay well. Good luck!

[Career2_BSN, BSN]

I had titers drawn for the whole list of immunizations because I'm in my mid-30s and most immunizations were done in childhood. I came back positive for everything except Chicken Pox (which my mom swears I had as a kid) and Hep B which wasn't available until I was in high school. My MMR, which were all done 20+ years ago, were still good.

I encourage titers since everyone metabolizes differently as another poster stated.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

If you only had one MMR, you probably need another one. 2 doses of MMR is the standard requirement. If you had both shots, you would only need a booster if you don't have titers.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

the date has nothing to do with it as each persons immune system is different (and will change within that person to!). Basically, you either are immune or you aren't and the titer is designed to tell you which. I have people complain about Hep B titers because they had all three vaccines. That does not prove your immunity. Same with other diseases.

Remember, there are MANY diseases, but only some have vaccines and that is because at some time it was determined these disease are virulent enough to wipe out populations. That means immunity is important. As a nurse you will be exposed to all sorts of people, and you want to stay well. Good luck!

MMR are not going to "wipe out populations". and in persons with active, untreated celiac it is not uncommon for them to not convert on Hep B.