Immunizations longevity or effectiveness

realnursealso/LPN, LPN · Feb 24, 2010

I had a rubella titer drawn when I went to work at my first hospital job in 1980. Everyone said I was immune. I never paid much attention to it, because long ago, when I was a child, I had rubella. So fast forward to 6-8 years later, the nursing agency I worked for gave me a call and said, my titer, written the old way?, said I was not immune. So off to the local health department I went, and got an MMR vacination. Titer redrawn, at my drs., still showing I was not immune. My dr. was puzzeled, but said to go get the second MMR vacination, and wrote a statement saying I had been vacinated X2, so this solved the problem. I shudder to think about if they start drawing titers for Hep B, because I'm afraid it will happen again, even though I had the 3 injections for it. Now I don't know if it's related, but I also had a problem with my blood reacting to citrate in blood draw tubes. Which was a real nightmare! My CBC came back X's 3, saying I didn't have enough platelets. My family dr said I needed to make an appt. at a hemotologist. My nurse brain alternated between overdrive and denial. Finally the day came and I went to the hemotologist. The paperwork I had to fill out made me cry, I was so scared. The first thing they did was draw my blood, in an empty tube. Shortly after that, the dr came in to see me. She said, first of all, you are fine and you have plenty of platelets, now I will explain why. Your blood reacts to the citrate in the blood draw tube, and your platelets clump together and when the machine reads your blood count, it says you don't have enough. She said it had happened to many people, and the first thing they do to pts. with that diagnosis is draw their blood into an empty tube. My family physican even went so far as to say having a medic alert bracelet with this info on it might be a good idea. I haven't done it, but my family and close friends are all aware. Also my dr. has it in my chart at the office. So I just wanted to share all this with you. So good luck, I hope your titer comes out ok.

SmilesNoir · Feb 24, 2010

thank you so much for responding.. i was so upset. i think, this is crazy.

now, i was told that i have itp syndrome. this makes me wonder do i really have it or not. it has ok per 2000. i was dx in 1998.

now, i'm trying to decided to get the mmr over or get a mmr titer with an empty tube. i still have the hbv titer .. decisions.. decisions.. :yeah:

i had a rubella titer drawn when i went to work at my first hospital job in 1980. everyone said i was immune. i never paid much attention to it, because long ago, when i was a child, i had rubella. so fast forward to 6-8 years later, the nursing agency i worked for gave me a call and said, my titer, written the old way?, said i was not immune. so off to the local health department i went, and got an mmr vacination. titer redrawn, at my drs., still showing i was not immune. my dr. was puzzeled, but said to go get the second mmr vacination, and wrote a statement saying i had been vacinated x2, so this solved the problem. i shudder to think about if they start drawing titers for hep b, because i'm afraid it will happen again, even though i had the 3 injections for it. now i don't know if it's related, but i also had a problem with my blood reacting to citrate in blood draw tubes. which was a real nightmare! my cbc came back x's 3, saying i didn't have enough platelets. my family dr said i needed to make an appt. at a hemotologist. my nurse brain alternated between overdrive and denial. finally the day came and i went to the hemotologist. the paperwork i had to fill out made me cry, i was so scared. the first thing they did was draw my blood, in an empty tube. shortly after that, the dr came in to see me. she said, first of all, you are fine and you have plenty of platelets, now i will explain why. your blood reacts to the citrate in the blood draw tube, and your platelets clump together and when the machine reads your blood count, it says you don't have enough. she said it had happened to many people, and the first thing they do to pts. with that diagnosis is draw their blood into an empty tube. my family physican even went so far as to say having a medic alert bracelet with this info on it might be a good idea. i haven't done it, but my family and close friends are all aware. also my dr. has it in my chart at the office. so i just wanted to share all this with you. so good luck, i hope your titer comes out ok.

aura_of_laura · Feb 24, 2010

Some people are non-converters, meaning they just don't respond much, or at all, to certain vaccines. I've given several employees the Hep B series two and three times in two years, with no response whatsoever. Another reason why 'herd immunity' is so important!

Plus, many vaccines do not provide lifelong immunity, you have to get a booster every so often. Tetorifice is every ten years; diptheria, HPV, and Hib all need boosters. MMR and Hep B usually don't need a booster.

SmilesNoir · Mar 20, 2010

:yeah: I decided to titer for the MMR. It came back that I was immune. Even tho, I was border long for Mumps.. :yeah:

Thanks for responding.