Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak is forcing adults to answer a question many were never expected to remember: What vaccine did you receive 40, 50, or 60 years ago?
I am old enough (66) that I actually had measles, mumps, and chicken pox all when I was 6-7 years old.
I have pictures and really remember having each of them with my brother and sister. They were younger than me, I was in first grade and I probably gave them the viruses.
I had all the required childhood vaccinations. I remember being in line to get them. I remember the polio sugar cube and I had the small pox bump and scar.
I think they didn't have the vaccines for measles and mumps yet when I was that age.
I truly don't want my grandchildren to have to deal that now though when it can mostly be avoided.
I’m in your same generation and have the same memory of things, there were no vaccines for measles and mumps, but we all got the disease and spent our time at home in bed getting over it.
I had no idea at the time that it was so dangerous, the kids could die. Most of us just had a few days off school and felt pretty off, tired, couldn’t see well, etc.
I got the polio vaccine, both the Salk injection, and the oral Sabin vaccine. In fact, the High School in the next town was named after Jonas Salk. I also got the diphtheria vaccine, but they didn’t have the measles vaccine, then. I had to suffer the measles (mild case), rubella, and mumps, and chicken pox.
People who don’t get vaccinated are taking a big gamble. I think the religions who forbid vaccination, need to take a long hard look at their belief systems and learn how vaccines are produced. Vaccine makers might be able to make changes in vaccines so they don’t offend their beliefs, but I don’t think that’s in a vaccine, other than the active ingredients do.
That whole autism thing is a big lie and RFK, Jr. is making it so much worse by promoting the lie, instead of looking at what really causes autism. It is probably genetic. The symptoms just rear their head around the time when little ones are getting their first vaccines, but the two are NOT connected.
I’m 73. My younger brother was born after 1957. Neither my brother or sister need to look up their vaccination records. I brought home measles, mumps, and chickenpox home in the 2nd grade and shared them all with my siblings. Shared the mumps with my Dad and he ended up in the hospital. That was a lousy year for my poor mother. For those of us who had all 3 of those, I can’t emphasize enough getting the shingles vaccine, especially if you had chickenpox. As a retired Home Health RN, I had many patients with shingles. My mom had it. It is a rash and it is not fatal but it is MISERABLE and can last 6 weeks or more. Save yourself that misery and get the shingles shot. And screw the ignorant RFK, jr. Get all your vaccinations, and especially for your kids.
Great article! Thank you!
I am old enough (66) that I actually had measles, mumps, and chicken pox all when I was 6-7 years old.
I have pictures and really remember having each of them with my brother and sister. They were younger than me, I was in first grade and I probably gave them the viruses.
I had all the required childhood vaccinations. I remember being in line to get them. I remember the polio sugar cube and I had the small pox bump and scar.
I think they didn't have the vaccines for measles and mumps yet when I was that age.
I truly don't want my grandchildren to have to deal that now though when it can mostly be avoided.
Info I just looked up, I live in TN:
The MMR vaccine wasn't available till like 1971?
I’m in your same generation and have the same memory of things, there were no vaccines for measles and mumps, but we all got the disease and spent our time at home in bed getting over it.
I had no idea at the time that it was so dangerous, the kids could die. Most of us just had a few days off school and felt pretty off, tired, couldn’t see well, etc.
Glad this information help you. Thanks for the like...
I got the polio vaccine, both the Salk injection, and the oral Sabin vaccine. In fact, the High School in the next town was named after Jonas Salk. I also got the diphtheria vaccine, but they didn’t have the measles vaccine, then. I had to suffer the measles (mild case), rubella, and mumps, and chicken pox.
People who don’t get vaccinated are taking a big gamble. I think the religions who forbid vaccination, need to take a long hard look at their belief systems and learn how vaccines are produced. Vaccine makers might be able to make changes in vaccines so they don’t offend their beliefs, but I don’t think that’s in a vaccine, other than the active ingredients do.
That whole autism thing is a big lie and RFK, Jr. is making it so much worse by promoting the lie, instead of looking at what really causes autism. It is probably genetic. The symptoms just rear their head around the time when little ones are getting their first vaccines, but the two are NOT connected.
I’m 73. My younger brother was born after 1957. Neither my brother or sister need to look up their vaccination records. I brought home measles, mumps, and chickenpox home in the 2nd grade and shared them all with my siblings. Shared the mumps with my Dad and he ended up in the hospital. That was a lousy year for my poor mother. For those of us who had all 3 of those, I can’t emphasize enough getting the shingles vaccine, especially if you had chickenpox. As a retired Home Health RN, I had many patients with shingles. My mom had it. It is a rash and it is not fatal but it is MISERABLE and can last 6 weeks or more. Save yourself that misery and get the shingles shot. And screw the ignorant RFK, jr. Get all your vaccinations, and especially for your kids.