'Take the vaccine, please,' Dr. Mehmet Oz says in an appeal as measles cases rise
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A leading U.S. health official is urging people to get inoculated against the measles at a time of outbreaks across several states. The appeal is from Dr.

A leading U.S. health official on Sunday urged people to get inoculated against the measles at a time of outbreaks across several states and as the United States is at risk of losing its measles elimination status.

“Take the vaccine, please,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator whose boss has raised suspicion about the safety and importance of vaccines. “We have a solution for our problem.”

Oz, a heart surgeon, defended some recently revised federal vaccine recommendations as well as past comments from President Donald Trump and the nation’s health chief, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about the efficacy of vaccines. From Oz, there was a clear message on the measles.

  • Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    14·
    1 day ago

    Regular reminder that if you were born before 1989 you probably only got 1 measles vaccine, as was recommended at the time, and no booster. The booster bumps effectiveness up from 93% to 97%. You can ask your doctor to test your antibodies for measles immunity to see if you need it, or ask to just go ahead with the booster if you know you didn’t get it.

    • Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world
      2·
      8 hours ago

      I’m grateful that, when she was pregnant, my sister-in-law insisted that anyone who planned to interact with her kids got the MMR booster beforehand. I have no idea when my last booster was before that, but with all this shit going down I can feel comfortable knowing I was boosted within the last decade.

    • Drusas@fedia.io
      5·
      17 hours ago

      There’s also no harm in getting the vaccine again if you’re not sure whether you had it before (but did).

    • aramis87@fedia.io
      6·
      22 hours ago

      In the US:

      • If you were born before 1957, you’re presumed immune to measles.
      • If you were vaccinated before 1967, you should get a booster [the original vaccine wasn’t as effective as the later vaccine].
      • If you were vaccinated between 1967 and 1989, you should consider a booster shot [they thought you only needed one shot, but you actually need two].
      • If you were vaccinated after 1989, you are presumed immune.