31 Comments

You are so great, Deb. THANK YOU for all you do to improve our lives and keep us informed and help us take care of ourselves. We are all better because of you. ❤️

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Thank YOU.

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Valuable advice. On orders of our daughter, my wife and I got a new MMR shot in preparation for being grandparents. Glad we did! And the shingles vaccine is a no-brainer.

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Nice! I can't wait to be a grandparent! My daughter is getting married this May, woot!

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Just requested a blood test from my PCP. Thank you. Still thanking you 2x week for my vaginal estrogen which I requested after reading your column.

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FYI, I encourage everyone to get your shingles vaccine at CVS. Super easy. Yes, your arm will be sore.

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Maybe I should change my tagline to "Tackling women's health, one vagina at a time." lol Thank YOU for being a subscriber!

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I went to the NYT link ad didn't see anywhere that it said if you were born between 1957-1968 you would need a booster. In fact, it said that even if you got one shot you're good. So was it a different link?

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Here's the quote from the story: "If you were vaccinated before 1968, you may need at least one more dose, because the shot offered previously was less effective.

If you were vaccinated between 1968 and 1989, there may be some gap in immunity: During that time the C.D.C. recommended only one shot. A single dose is around 93 percent effective against measles. Now, the agency says full protection is two shots, which are roughly 97 percent effective."

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7dEdited

I had shingles in 2016 on the left side my face. Lovely. I went to work with an ice pack on my face. I now have scars on the side of my nose, by my eye and under my eye. But I count myself lucky--a fellow worker had shingles IN HER EYE and went blind. As soon as it was over, I got the vaccine. Shingles hurt more and lasted much longer than childbirth. Get checked for tetanus as well as measles--you may need a booster. I did!

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OMG, on your face!??? Ouch! And thanks for the tetanus info!

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Deb - thank you for this PSA. I was born in 1968 and my titer says I have no immunity to Measles despite my childhood vaccine. Getting my vax tomorrow. Keep up the good work!!!

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Oh, good! I'm so glad you're going, too. My sister was born in 1968. I'll tell her to go, too.

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You have inspired me to make an appointment today for a measles vaccination. Merci!

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So glad!

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Thank you, Deborah. I got my shingles vaccines a while back. Yes, it was miserable and both vaccines made me ill, but I'm glad it's behind me. I'll look into getting a measles vaccine. I look forward to reading Molly's book. I've taken care of two parents at the end of their lives, and I wish there was more to prepare us for these sort of things...

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My PCP scheduled my booster TODAY at 3:30, so yeah. Get it done asap if possible. The woman on the phone said she's flooded with requests, and there were several cases already reported in our area.

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Keep going Deb. Your public service posts are so helpful. xo

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Thank you so much!

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Thanks for all of this great info Deborah, I appreciate you. As I was born in 1959, I've just requested the blood test, and I'm so thankful I received my Shingles vaccine several years ago. The pain sounds excruciating, and I'm sorry you experienced it. Thank you again for keeping us informed during these crazy, sad, unbelievable times. 😭

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Unbelievable, for sure. It's really nuts, and it's affecting all of our lives. Thank you.

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So sorry you have shingles again! Don't forget about the vaccine for pneumoccocal pneumonia, which is I believe is recommended starting at age 50. And thanks for the book recommendation!

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Yup, got that already. :)

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Just a note of encouragement about the Shingrex vaccine. I got it and had no side effects, except intense relief that now I wouldn't get as sick as my friend Dorothy was when she got shingles. Go get that shot!

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Yes, for some people they don't feel bad afterward. I felt like a brick had hit me each time. But just for one day. Thanks for the reminder.

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My husband born in 1959 just got titer results and had high immunity, fortunately, but it was so worth checking.

I am going to get shingles vaccine, thank you. I had shingles and it was worse pain than kidney stones, C-section and puerperal fever, etc, polymyalgia rheumatic...the list goes on. It is worth preventing if possible. I have had flares but nothing like the first event...I actually stayed home sick from work, which I never do. A friend has it in her eye right now and it is very hard to treat.

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It’s the worst! But with a vaccine it’s less bad.

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Thank you for doing such a great job informing us, sharing your experiences, and reminding us that we’re all suffering the effects of the sociopaths running the government: at times like this it is comforting to be reminded that I’m not alone- the trauma is a shared one (even if the idiots who voted for him are too clueless to have figured that out. Sending love and birthday greetings to you.

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If you don’t want to pay for a doc visit, you can get vaccines just by signing up for them at the local CVS or Walgreens. I got a bunch before traveling last fall (incl MMR) and was surprised by their variety.

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Got my measles booster in 2016 during a surge here in Wisconsin, and shingles and everything else I can possibly pile on, because that old joke that starts, “So, a germ walks into a public library…” is actually true. (Signed: A public librarian)

On a separate note, thank you for keeping up with ongoing developments under totalitarian rule - trusted mediators are indispensable as I figure out how to navigate our horrific new reality.)

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