blood screening in pregnancy

[beachykeen01]

Does anyone know if I would have been screened for measles immunity when I was pregnant? I had my babies in 2008/2011 in the UK and now live in NZ... there is a measles epidemic here at the moment and they are rationing immunisation for those that really need it... I will have had partial immunity as received one vaccine as a child but we didn't have the second shot as kids in the 70/80's... I was wondering if when I was pregnant I may have been tested - does anyone know? Thanks

Go to your GP and ask for a screening test just to be certain. Blame the NHS. They will love that!

Where I live in England you probably would have been screened for it. I think every pregnant woman prior to 2014 was offered screening. Have you asked your old GP whether they have a copy of the screening report. Would a GP in Nz test your immunity levels now?

It will cost more than the booster to get tested to see if I have immunity 🙄 even more awesome is we have 11000 students arriving in town for a sporting festival this week - if I had a young baby I'd put myself on house arrest, as it is I will go to work and home again til they all leave town in a week

Honestly, OP... I’m studying nursing. I’d just go and get the booster.

Justilou I totally would but they are out of stock... fingers crossed they get new stock soon 🤞

I only remember them screening for rubella when I was pregnant in 2008/9 and 2011.

I haven’t had measles and I didn’t have the MMR as I’m too old. I have had rubella and mumps though.

So I’d say they didn’t screen you and if you haven’t had it you could be at risk.

I’ve just googled - I didn’t realise measles was available as a single vaccine since 1963!

I guess I might have had it then (born 1982) but I definitely wasn’t asked about it when pregnant.

I believe you are only screened for rubella in pregnancy in the UK. I know because I just had to have a measles screening for work and I’ve come up non-immune and had to go for a course of the MMR (or else I wouldn’t have been able to do my job).

The nurse said that it’s very normal for our generation to not be immune as the vaccination was only introduced late 80s so we only would have had 1 dose.

Realistically, you are a healthy adult so I wouldn’t be too concerned. You are not a high risk group even in an epidemic. If I hadn’t needed it done for work, I wouldn’t have bothered myself (and I work in public health). My dc are fully vaccinated, which matters more to me.

This came up on my local Plunket thread today... might be helpful for you with the phone numbers?
Please note this is directly copied from the official Plunket post.

💉❌🤰🏻PREGNANT WOMEN + MEASLES🤰🏾❌💉
Pregnant women are not able to be immunised with the MMR (the measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.

If you're pregnant and think you may have measles or have come in contact with someone with measles, you should call your general practice, lead maternity carer or Healthline on 0800 611 116 as soon as possible.

💘 PROTECT OUR HAPŪ WĀHINE 💘
You can help protect the pregnant women in your life by ensuring you are up to date with your immunisations.

You can find out your immunisation status by checking your WellChild/Plunket book, or your GP records.

You should have TWO MMR injections.

If you're not sure (these records can be hard to find), it's safer to repeat your vaccine dose than to be left susceptible to measles.

🤔 QUESTIONS? 🤔
If you have any questions on the measles, especially around families, please feel free to give our PlunketLine team a call on 0800 933 922 - this is a free, 24/7 service.

We also have an FAQ document on our website that may have the answer you're looking for: www.plunket.org.nz/your-child/illness/measles/faqs-auckland-measles-outbreak-2019/

Also, assuming you were screened for immunity if you were non-immune you would have been offered an MMR booster postnatally, like the PP who needed the booster for work?!