MMR didn't take?

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Hello all nurses!

I get a call from my OB today. Yes the stress began there! I got a letter a week ago saying all my blood work is ok. My husband and I are trying to have a baby and I'm trying to get everything in line for that special occasion. Now they are saying my rubella didn't take? Kinda wierd. I'm glad I didn't come across anything since I went through nursing school and the population that I deal with isn't the healthiest. Has anyone else been in this situation? I have my shot record and it says 2 of them and the last was 7th grade. WHo knows. I know that oral polio came out saying it don't take as well, so now they are doing shots.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

The MMR doesn't work 100% of the time- I have had 5 MMRs (2 as a child and 3 as an adult) and I still have not seroconverted to measles.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Maybe there was nothing wrong with the vaccine, but your body did not maintain a high enough titer level for you to be safe. You cannot take it if you are pregnant so best get it over with.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

It could be that the vaccines weren't stored properly, but more likely is that you didn't seroconvert. Most of the time, if you haven't converted after two, you probably won't after three or four, or any more. I had a mom a few months ago who was rubella non-immune and had gotten the MMR as a child, as well as after the births of her first 4 kids (this was #5). I offered her the vax before she went home and she declined. "I have already gotten this 5 times. I don't think it will work." I couldn't disagree.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

does happen on occassion and I have on a few times given MMR to mum post delivery unless breast feeding. To be honest mum's tend to wait a few months before having it as don't want to risk feeling ill whilst looking after a new born

Some people just don't build immunity up in the same way some don't with Hep B vacs, know a few nurses this has happened to

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Specializes in Operating Room.
The MMR doesn't work 100% of the time- I have had 5 MMRs (2 as a child and 3 as an adult) and I still have not seroconverted to measles.

Me neither!! The NP at work told me to stay away from anyone with measles...thankfully, it's not so common.

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I found out the same thing only it was after I was pregnant so I had to wait until after I had the baby to get things taken care of.

Leslie

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

You can take the vaccine again before becoming pregnant, but be 100% certain you are not pregnant and then don't get pregnant for a month afterwards.

It would probably be worth another try. If you don't convert then, I wouldn't disagree with anyone saying you might not.

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I'm glad that I'm not the only one. I'll try to get another titer after another shot. If my memory serves me right I thought I got the measles as a child even when I got the shot. Who knows. I will have to see what happens. Thank you for the advice and I'll keep you posted.

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I had titers drawn before starting nursing school and had to get the shots again because I wasn't showing immunity to measles. My doc recommended having titers drawn again in a year to see if I seroconvert, just to know, since he said he wouldn't give the series again (had it when I started junior high school also).

RNin'08

~my reality check bounced~

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