There’s a lot of question marks out in the ethers from many of us wondering if vaccinations we had as children against Measles, Mumps and Rubella are still protective. I, for one, was quite curious as to whether or not I’m still protected against Measles, mostly because the epidemic is alive and well, back in circulation.
Before I went to my doctor in December for my annual physical and labs to be done, I was searching around for information wanting to learn if I was still immune to Measles, in particular. After reading several inconclusive articles, I decided to plug in my questionning concern into ChatGPT. Granted, this is an AI conversation, and it is known to scrape around the net for answers. Although I wouldn’t accept anything from ChatGPT as the gospel, I was nonetheless interested in what it had to say about immunity lasting.
Below are the answers I received from ChatGPT. Then of course, I discussed this dilemma with my doctor. As you can read below, the years we were vaccinated as kids and the availability of different vaccines and timelines caused me some confusion. I know I was vaccinated, but did I have the second shot? Did I have the non-lasting one? The shots from 1963-67 (when I most likely had mine), looked a little dodgy to me, having me question if I’m still immune.
You will note at the end of the discussion, it is suggested to have the Titer test to check if we still have immunity from Measles. My doctor sent me the requisition to have this test done to check my questionnable immunity. It was a free test offered by the Government of Canada.
Read what ChatGPT had to say below, in answer to my questions, and after I will share my report on my status of immunity:
From ChatGPT
Are children who were vaccinated against Measles in the 1960s still immune?
Whether children vaccinated against measles in the 1960s are still immune
depends largely on the specific year and type of vaccine they received.
While most people vaccinated with a live measles vaccine (the standard since 1968) are considered protected for life, those vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 may not be.
Summary of Immunity by Vaccination Year
- 1963–1967: During these years, two types of vaccines were used: a “killed” (inactivated) version and a “live” version.
- The Inactivated Vaccine: This version was later found to be ineffective and did not provide long-term immunity.
- Unknown Type: Because it is often difficult to determine which version was administered, health officials generally recommend that anyone vaccinated during this period be revaccinated with at least one dose of the modern MMR vaccine.
- 1968–1988: Most people in this group received a single dose of the live vaccine, which is about 93% effective for life. While most remain immune, a second dose (introduced as the standard in 1989) is often recommended for high-risk adults, such as healthcare workers or international travelers, to reach 97% effectiveness.
- Born before 1957: Most people born before 1957 are presumed to have lifelong immunity because the virus was so widespread that nearly everyone contracted it as a child.
How to Check Your Immunity
If you were vaccinated in the 1960s and are unsure of your status, you can:
- Request a Blood Test: A healthcare provider can perform a measles titer test to check for antibodies.
- Get Revaccinated: The CDC and other health authorities state there is no harm in receiving an additional dose of the MMR vaccine even if you are already immune.
This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
If you were born in 1959, you likely would not have received a measles vaccine as part of your routine childhood immunization in Canada.
Health authorities in Canada generally assume that anyone born before 1970 has natural immunity because the virus was so widespread before routine vaccination programs were established.
Key Facts for Birth Year 1959
- Vaccine Availability: The first measles vaccine was not approved in Canada until 1963. By the time it became available, you would have been approximately 4 years old.
- Routine Programs: Routine childhood immunization programs for measles did not start in most Canadian provinces until the early 1970s.
- Presumed Immunity: Because measles circulated widely during your childhood, it is highly probable you were exposed to and contracted the virus naturally, which provides lifelong immunity.
Current Recommendations
While you are generally presumed immune, current Canadian guidelines suggest you may still need a dose of the MMR vaccine in the following specific circumstances:
- Healthcare Workers/Military: You may be required to have documented evidence of immunity (a blood test or two doses of vaccine).
- International Travel: If you are traveling to an area with a known measles outbreak, a single dose is often recommended if you cannot prove natural immunity through a titer test.
- Post-Secondary Students: Some institutions may consider one dose of MMR for susceptible students born before 1970.
If you are unsure of your status and are in a high-risk group, you can consult a healthcare provider for a blood test or simply get an MMR dose, which is safe even if you are already immune.
I never had measles, do I need an MMR?
While you may have received a vaccination in your later childhood, it is highly unlikely you received the combined MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine during the 1960s, as it was not yet in use in Ontario.
Timeline of Vaccines in Ontario
- 1963–1969: Only separate (monovalent) vaccines were available. If you were vaccinated during this time, you likely received an early version of a single-component measles vaccine.
- 1971: The combined MMR vaccine was first developed, but it was not immediately used in routine provincial programs.
- Early 1970s: Ontario introduced routine single-dose measles vaccination programs.
- 1983: The routine MMR combination vaccine program for infants was officially established in Ontario.
What This Means for Your Immunity
If you were born in 1959, you were 4 years old when the first measles vaccine arrived in Canada and 12 years old when the MMR was first developed.
- If you received a vaccine between 1963 and 1967: You may have received the “killed” (inactivated) vaccine, which was used in Canada during those years and is now known to be ineffective for long-term protection.
- If you received it after 1968: You likely received a live attenuated vaccine, which generally provides lifelong immunity from a single dose.
Recommendations
Because you never had the measles disease and the type of vaccine used in the 1960s is often difficult to confirm, health authorities recommend the following for adults in your age group:
- Check for “Yellow Cards”: Look for old paper immunization records or contact your local public health unit to see if historical records exist.
- Blood Test (Titer): A healthcare provider can order a test to confirm whether you have protective antibodies.
- Safe Revaccination: If you are traveling or at high risk, getting one modern dose of the MMR vaccine is safe and effective, even if you were previously vaccinated.
~ ~ ~
.
THE RESULTS:
After receiving the results from this test I took, it appeared a bit ‘grey’ to me. Why? Because it said that it looked as though I had some immunity because it appeared that my bloodwork showed some Measle remnants, also stating it appeared I ‘may’ have already had Measles as a child. Except, I didn’t. So this caused more confusion for me.
After all my labs, including this Titer test, came back, I had a telehealth call with my doctor to go over all the results. When we discussed the result of the Measle test, my doctor advised that I never had the Mumps or Rubella vaccine, and because the Measle result was a tad questionnable, that it would be advisable for me to have the MMR vaccine in the summer, adding there was no danger to having another. I’m waiting for summer to have it because in April I’ll be having shot #2 of the Shingles vaccine, and shot #1 was no picnic. My arm was in literal pain for a few days, not just stiff, and it was some kind of sore to the touch for three weeks after! But hey, I’ve witnessed a few friends who suffered with Shingles and I know for a fact it’s a painful thing to go through, so if I can avoid it, I’m in.
Now, I have to ask, do any of you here know the status of your own Measles immunity?
©DGKaye2026
DGKayewriter.com 