A friend recently told me she was offered MMR vaccine when attending her GP's practice. She was told that measles is on the rise. This lady is of age where she didn't receive it previously (introduced in UK in 1988). Neither did she receive the measles only vaccine (introduced in 1968). She suffered measles as a child. So did I. We understood that we had lifelong immunity as a result. Is that still true? I've read that those born prior to 1957 are considered immune to measels and mumps. Mumps is worse in adults than children. Never having contracted mumps or German measels, is it worthwhile seeking MMR vaccination even if born prior to 1957?

While immunity derived from vaccination has been found to decrease over time, it is generally thought  that immunity after natural measles infection is lifelong .

 

Recent study however did find that 6% of working age people with stated history of natural measles infection did not have adequate immunity, unknown if due to mistaken recall of  health history  or decline over time. ..and these were young-ish people, all types of immunity tend to decline in the elderly.

 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8189124/

 

Possibly it was this possibility that led GP to offer it.

 

There is no harm to getting the MMR if you previously had measles.

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

While immunity derived from vaccination has been found to decrease over time, it is generally thought  that immunity after natural measles infection is lifelong .

 

Recent study however did find that 6% of working age people with stated history of natural measles infection did not have adequate immunity, unknown if due to mistaken recall of  health history  or decline over time. ..and these were young-ish people, all types of immunity tend to decline in the elderly.

 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8189124/

 

Possibly it was this possibility that led GP to offer it.

 

There is no harm to getting the MMR if you previously had measles.

Thanks Sheryl. It's protection from mumps that I view as the main benefit.