DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband and I recently welcomed our new granddaughter. She is 2 months old and therefore several months away from receiving her first MMR vaccine. We live in Texas, and while there are currently no known measles cases in our area, we are aware that it could happen due to the highly contagious nature of the virus.

I am 65, and my husband is 68. Other than my mom saying that she “thinks I had the measles when I was 3,” we have no records proving that we had measles or the vaccine. We both asked our primary care physicians if we should get MMR boosters as a precaution for our granddaughter. My doctor advised me to get a titer blood test to check for immunities.

I followed her advice, and the test showed that I am immune to measles. My husband asked his doctor about the titer test, but his physician advised against receiving the blood test and strongly recommended the booster instead. The contrast in our doctors’ responses puzzles me. When I see my doctor next, I will ask her. In the meantime, I would love your input. — C.R.

ANSWER: Congratulations on your new granddaughter, and I hope she stays safe! Normally, a child would get their first measles immunization at 12 months. During an outbreak, a child can get an additional dose from 11 months to age 6 to help protect them against this dangerous and highly infectious virus. If her pediatrician decides to do this, she should still get a dose at 12-15 months and a second dose at 4-6 years.

For adults, both your doctors are right. Getting a positive blood titer test proves immunity, and with your positive result, you don’t have to get the vaccine (which could potentially be in short supply in Texas and needed for children and the unvaccinated). However, giving the vaccine, as your husband’s doctor did, is the fastest way to ensure immunity. (We don’t want our patients with negative titers to forget to come back.) Also, some insurance won’t let doctors give the MMR vaccine unless the titers are negative.

DR. ROACH WRITES: Every year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services publishes a searchable database of payments made to health care providers (physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants, certified nurse-midwives, and teaching hospitals). I recently got my annual reminder to check and ensure that my own data are accurate. The goal of the program is to “promote a transparent and accountable health care system.”

I am frequently asked if I get money from pharmaceutical companies. Anyone can find out whether their health care providers are getting support from any “reporting entities” such as drug companies. I do want to note that accepting money is not unethical. Many researchers work with drug companies or device manufacturers. But I do think it’s appropriate that all these relationships are out in the open. The system can be accessed at OpenPaymentsData.CMS.gov.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.