Immunization Help

[JustBreathe]

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I got the forms in the mail today about the immunizations that I need before orientation starts. I haven't had the Hep B series, and it takes about 6 months to complete. Obviously, I won't be able to complete it by the end of the summer. Is that going to keep me out of classes?

 

[jameslynton]

Yea, they take six months to complete. I will not finish until Christmas break it is no big deal. It is for later on. But do check with your school. It was not a show stopper for mine.
j

 

[Junkster]

Most schools seem to allow you to start the set before you start school and finish them during your first year.

 

[Law2Doc]

Most schools seem to allow you to start the set before you start school and finish them during your first year.

yes. Many people start med school without more than the first shot. The school will usually let you knew when the student health people will be giving out subsequent shots after you start.

 

[JustBreathe]

Thanks everyone... that makes me feel better. I was freaking out an hour or two ago, thinking I wouldn't be able to matriculate.

 

[JustBreathe]

I have another question for everyone. When the school asks for "proof" of immunization, what do they want? I have the dates that I was immunized, but that's about it. I don't have any fancy records or anything.

 

[Whootman]

Proof of immunization means a blood titer showing adequate amounts of the specific antibodies.

 

[Khenon]

I have another question for everyone. When the school asks for "proof" of immunization, what do they want? I have the dates that I was immunized, but that's about it. I don't have any fancy records or anything.

Do you have your original shot record? They should have a stamp or initials of the medical professional who gave you the immunization, and that would suffice. If you don't have any kind of official record, you might have to get titered for everything. I had to get titered for chicken pox, since I actually got sick and never got immunized for it. It was the most expensive test I had to get too.

 

[burlypie]

I had to get titered for chicken pox, since I actually got sick and never got immunized for it. It was the most expensive test I had to get too.

My doc was awesome and just had me show him a chicken pox scar to prove that I had had it. That was fine with him and he signed off on my form.

 

[Rogue Synapse]

My doc was awesome and just had me show him a chicken pox scar to prove that I had had it. That was fine with him and he signed off on my form.

The acme of medical rigor, to be sure.

 

[Hersey]

The acme of medical rigor, to be sure.

 

[tiger_lily]

Did anyone else receive Hep B shots in middle school? Or is that just another weird Canadian thing? LOL.
When I had to get my immunizations before going to Uganda I brought in the dates for the immunizations I'd received as a youngster and the nurse at the travel clinic wrote them all on my Yellow Fever certificate and signed off on them as well. I'm not sure if that will qualify as proof though...

 

[JustBreathe]

Apparently my school just requires a list of dates that the immunizations were received, no further proof than that at this time. Whew!

 

[jpjp110]

If you take your first dose of hep b and don't finish the rest of the series do you have to start all over again or can you start from dose 2?

 

[personal]

If I haven't had chickenpox and got the first dose of the varicella vaccine do I need to get the second one. Does anyone know if you have to start over if you miss the second dose?

 

[Law2Doc]

If you take your first dose of hep b and don't finish the rest of the series do you have to start all over again or can you start from dose 2?

If you don't have them within close to the prescribed time period you will usually have to start over.

 

[SexyLexie729]

Did anyone else receive Hep B shots in middle school? Or is that just another weird Canadian thing? LOL.
When I had to get my immunizations before going to Uganda I brought in the dates for the immunizations I'd received as a youngster and the nurse at the travel clinic wrote them all on my Yellow Fever certificate and signed off on them as well. I'm not sure if that will qualify as proof though...

I got mine in middle school too. It was required in my school district to be enrolled (in So Cal).

 

[princessd3]

If you take your first dose of hep b and don't finish the rest of the series do you have to start all over again or can you start from dose 2?

I had my first shot in August of last year. When I went back in February I was nervous about the long gap and asked to have the series started again. They gave me a shot and told me to come back a month later. When I went a month later I was told that the doctor said it was perfectly ok to make the Feb shot the second shot and now I have to go back in June for the third. Many people have told me it's ok.

 

[nibrocli]

i just got my titers back. turns out i'm NOT immune to:

1. rubeola (immunized as a child like everyone else)
2. varicella (had very mild case at 9 mos. of age)

how common is this?

 

[dajimmers]

i just got my titers back. turns out i'm NOT immune to:

1. rubeola (immunized as a child like everyone else)
2. varicella (had very mild case at 9 mos. of age)

how common is this?

Stupid lazy memory cells wandering off an apoptosing.

 

[the brown note]

If I haven't had chickenpox and got the first dose of the varicella vaccine do I need to get the second one. Does anyone know if you have to start over if you miss the second dose?

You might not have to--after I had the first vaccine, my PCP ordered a titer to see if I needed the second shot or not. I didn't have a high enough level, so I got the second shot. My husband, on the other hand, had an acceptable level on the titer after just the first shot, so he didn't have to have the second one. Our insurance covered the titer, so I'm not sure how expensive the titer test was, but you might want to look into that possibility. 👍

 

[personal]

I've gotten the hep b vaccine before but I got the first dose 3 years ago and never finished the series and started the series again 9 months ago and never finished the series again. I just got another dose to start the series again. Does anyone know if it is dangerous to get more than 4 doses of the hep b vaccine.


Also I never had chickenpox and got the first dose of the vaccine 3 years ago and got a titer this year and I wasn't immune. Is it dangerous to get more than three doses of the varicella vaccine?

 

[ShyRem]

don't know if it's dangerous, but I do know a guy who got like 6 shots of the hep b series and STILL didn't have decent titers.

BTW: Got all my immunizations done, and TB tests done - did y'all know you can't have a PPD test if you've had certain immunizations within 5 weeks of your PPD test? Can't have had MMR, varicella, and a slew of others.

 

[jmk]

don't know if it's dangerous, but I do know a guy who got like 6 shots of the hep b series and STILL didn't have decent titers.

I was told when I went to get my titer that because it had been so long since I had gotten my Hep b series, the titer might come back as a false negative. The level of response needed to keep you imune is lower than the titer's sensitivity. That is why keeping records of your immunizations and titers will help you from getting "re-immunized" unnessarily.

Luckaly my titer came back positive.

 

[DrMom]

BTW: Got all my immunizations done, and TB tests done - did y'all know you can't have a PPD test if you've had certain immunizations within 5 weeks of your PPD test? Can't have had MMR, varicella, and a slew of others.

True. I was told, though, that you can get the MMR and PPD done on the exact same day: apparently the MMR won't interfere with the PPD reading just 2 days later even though it will if you do the PPD days or weeks after the MMR.

 

[psipsina]

So I've been having a different type of problem with immunizations. . . .I can't get my undergrad to send me my records. I faxed the formal request over a month ago, then two weeks ago I called and a lady said she would mail them that day, then I called yesterday and now its just a recording where you can leave a message. Isn't it illegal not to provide a person's health records upon request?? What do I do if they remain so uncooperative? I'm going in on Monday to see my PCP (I thought I would have my records by now, guess not) and I'm going to do all the titers and wait on the vaccinations because I know I had a ton done for undergrad 6 years ago.

 

[Katya00]

The paperwork I received said as long as you start your Hep B series, they can finish it at the school. They can't do the first one though, and it is a requirement that it is started before matriculation.

I had all my immunizations done before, so I got a titer. Thankfully, I'm still immune, even though I had mild chickenpox as a baby, and it's been years since the MMR and Hep B series.

I had to get the two PPDs, and I did the tetanus again too. I had to get it within my insurance time frame, since I quit my job 2 weeks ago. Hopefully it'll be mostly (or all) covered.

I have records of the original shots, and the labwork for the new ones too. I want to cover ALL bases!

 

[Jedix123]

Cheap place to get your shots is at the county health department. Only problem is you basically have to be in charge of your records. But it was 5 bucks for my Td shot.

 

[signomi]

So I've been having a different type of problem with immunizations. . . .I can't get my undergrad to send me my records. I faxed the formal request over a month ago, then two weeks ago I called and a lady said she would mail them that day, then I called yesterday and now its just a recording where you can leave a message. Isn't it illegal not to provide a person's health records upon request?? What do I do if they remain so uncooperative? I'm going in on Monday to see my PCP (I thought I would have my records by now, guess not) and I'm going to do all the titers and wait on the vaccinations because I know I had a ton done for undergrad 6 years ago.

Best learn this now...you will need your shot records for med school, then for residency, then for fellowship and then for every job! Get the records and copy them and keep them in two places (in case you lose one). When you get a new vaccination or PPD ask for a copy right then and there. No one has ever denied me a copy when I asked on the spot. But when I called for it weeks to months later? You bet your butt they made me wait weeks for it! Same goes for keeping titer records. I never had chicken pox so they made me get the titers and I am not paying for that again if I don't have to! (I was immune...my immune system is a rock star!)
This saves you so much grief down the road.