Mumps?!?

[Eden]

Lots of diseases that we think of as gone are making a come back because of people who are unwilling to vaccinate their children.... It's not taken very long to forget how devastating some of those childhood illnesses really could be.

The mumps vaccine only protects about 80% of people given it, so "herd immunity" is important too - it is important to protect those who are not immune, either because it didn't work in them or they for some reason really cannot be vaccinated (immune compromise, serious egg allergy, etc.) by being immune yourself.

It could be worse though mumps isn't the nastiest of the things we vaccinate against...

I've worked in hospitals almost my entire adult life... I have gotten lots of vaccinations... When I was at the VA they were seeing outbreaks of pertussis (whooping cough) in adults and signs that people around my age who were vaccinated as children becoming susceptible again. I'm pretty sure I got a DPT there. I think I might have had it again at my newest job - I work with kids now and it's pretty important to know that employees are not going to be passing this stuff on to babies - especially ones that are already sick.. They didn't think when I was at the VA DPT was available, but I'd swear I remember it... The government may get these things sooner? I don't think I had to re-do the MMR again. They just did a titer to make sure I had immunity. I'm good and do my flu vaccine every year too. I've never had the flu, but I'd feel terrible if I got it and passed it along - not to mention that some people don't get sick... they just carry it around and give it to people... no way I want that worry.