Immunizations - Holy freakin crap

[ethyl]

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So I need to get my immunizations updated for UF. It turns out I need:

Tdap $17
Meningococcal $97
PPd-TB $15
Varicella $64x2 (had a light case of chicken pox as a kid, only two bumps)
Hep B $33

For a whopping total of $290. Can we get cheap vaccines shipped in from Canada too? 😉

 

[futurepharm.d.?]

yep...more $$$$$...I will need some of those for Nova as well.....and I have to pay from my pocket too... 😳

 

[MoXiEguRl]

So I need to get my immunizations updated for UF. It turns out I need:

Tdap $17
Meningococcal $97
PPd-TB $15
Varicella $64x2 (had a light case of chicken pox as a kid, only two bumps)
Hep B $33

For a whopping total of $290. Can we get cheap vaccines shipped in from Canada too? 😉

Have you checked with the local health dept? They might have them cheaper!! or i'm sure you can call them to see where they would have cheaper places to get shots..

 

[RachGator]

Have you checked with the local health dept? They might have them cheaper!! or i'm sure you can call them to see where they would have cheaper places to get shots..

My prices are the same as the ones quoted an those are from the health department in Florida! I had a reallllly severe case of chickern pox at 16 and UT won't accept my doctor's diagnosis. It is the two shots for $128 or a blood titer. I haven't even been able to find somewhere that will do it, plus I need a script for it. By the time I pay for an office visit somewhere and for the test, who knows what that will cost. I guess that's why they said to start taking care of this now. Yuck!

 

[DownonthePharm]

Dont forget your Hep B is a series of three shots. Which makes that closer to $100 for that alone. While your at it you might as well to the combo Hep A/B shot. Its only a few bucks more.

Do you have insurance that will cover any of these? I second checking at the health department but they are not always cheaper.

All my records from infancy are gone (doctor retired many many years ago), so I have to get FOUR titers drawn because I have no proof of MMR vaccine.

RachGator, you can probably get a titer from a local hospital. Or if you live near UT they may have a suggestion on where to go.

 

[ethyl]

Dont forget your Hep B is a series of three shots. Which makes that closer to $100 for that alone. While your at it you might as well to the combo Hep A/B shot. Its only a few bucks more.

Do you have insurance that will cover any of these? I second checking at the health department but they are not always cheaper.

All my records from infancy are gone (doctor retired many many years ago), so I have to get FOUR titers drawn because I have no proof of MMR vaccine.

RachGator, you can probably get a titer from a local hospital. Or if you live near UT they may have a suggestion on where to go.

The florida health department clinic I went to doesn't accept insurance. Besides, my insurance expired in January. 🙁

It was so unexpected to find out how expensive these shots were... I figured there would have been some government action to make vaccines more widely available and affordable. I only got the TB test today because they wanted me to pay everything in cash or check. I might as well come in with a briefcase of money next time. I hope I don't get sick from being in that clinic. 😳 The place didn't look like it was funded very well.

 

[PharmDeb]

Ck with your university's health clinic too. I recently got the MMR for $45/shot, tetanus for $20, and Hep B titers for $10 (I believe they said it would have been $25 per shot if had to get this series).

 

[Poland]

Have you checked with the local health dept? They might have them cheaper!! or i'm sure you can call them to see where they would have cheaper places to get shots..

Ahhh! Okay, am I the only future pharmacist that doesn't like needles? Heh.. Let me clarify. I have no big problem with shots, I even had a big cortisone shot injected into my shoulder muscle (it was pain relief for an injury, although it made it worse). Shots aren't a problem, but I hate having blood drawn. It's the one medical procedure that I can't actually watch while enjoying my dinner.

I went to the health department many months ago for a certain medication at cheap rates, like you said. They told me they would have to take blood and that it was recommended I get a missed vaccination also. You should have seen me. When I am not given an advance on the need for a blood test, I feel like my body is being intruded upon. It's funny to me but it is what I feel.

The catalog I received to a pharmacy school had a big picture of a student pharmacist giving shots! I didn't know that this was done by a student pharmacist? I am not familiar with any practicing pharmacists giving vaccinations.

Anyway, the health department should definetly be cheaper. With as many vaccinations as we need I had better get started now. How far in advance do you go for these?

 

[Chambo]

So I need to get my immunizations updated for UF. It turns out I need:

Tdap $17
Meningococcal $97
PPd-TB $15
Varicella $64x2 (had a light case of chicken pox as a kid, only two bumps)
Hep B $33

For a whopping total of $290. Can we get cheap vaccines shipped in from Canada too? 😉

The meningococcal vaccine is not mandatory, you can waive it. As far as I know it is only an option for UF and is not required by the COP. I waived it when I came to UF for undergrad, and don't plan on getting it for pham school. I got the PPD a couple of weeks ago and sent in a copy of my immunizations.

 

[ethyl]

The meningococcal vaccine is not mandatory, you can waive it. As far as I know it is only an option for UF and is not required by the COP. I waived it when I came to UF for undergrad, and don't plan on getting it for pham school. I got the PPD a couple of weeks ago and sent in a copy of my immunizations.

I want to get everything I can... especially with the amount of people I might be around while working in pharmacy. 😉 I saw how bad it can be after my friend got bacterial meningitis just from working at Cracker Barrel.

 

[rxoh]

It's times like this that make me glad to be from Canada 😉

 

[sarahjth]

It's times like this that make me glad to be from Canada 😉

well I am a proud American!

 

[museabuse]

So I need to get my immunizations updated for UF. It turns out I need:

Tdap $17
Meningococcal $97
PPd-TB $15
Varicella $64x2 (had a light case of chicken pox as a kid, only two bumps)
Hep B $33

For a whopping total of $290. Can we get cheap vaccines shipped in from Canada too? 😉

THat seems rather cheap compared to what I had to pay for my hep B, not only did I have to get immunizations up to date but then I had to prove that I was immune by getting titers for everything. Titers cost ALOT.

 

[aya01]

Ahhh! Okay, am I the only future pharmacist that doesn't like needles? Heh.. Let me clarify. I have no big problem with shots, I even had a big cortisone shot injected into my shoulder muscle (it was pain relief for an injury, although it made it worse). Shots aren't a problem, but I hate having blood drawn. It's the one medical procedure that I can't actually watch while enjoying my dinner.

No, me too! Shots aren't normally a problem for me, but getting blood drawn is a different story. Ah well. Gotta do what's necessary to enter the field of health care!

THat seems rather cheap compared to what I had to pay for my hep B, not only did I have to get immunizations up to date but then I had to prove that I was immune by getting titers for everything. Titers cost ALOT.

Around how much do titers normally cost?

 

[museabuse]

Around how much do titers normally cost?

Depends... if you have a student health clinic it can be relatively inexpensive around 30 dollars. I went to family doctor who sends labs to some place like labcorp. They charge a lot more money than normal and then find out my insurance won't pay for any of it. So I think the titers and immunizations ended up costing me around 250-300 dollars.

 

[ethyl]

No, me too! Shots aren't normally a problem for me, but getting blood drawn is a different story. Ah well. Gotta do what's necessary to enter the field of health care!

I always prefer getting my blood drawn by a hot chick. 😳 That way I get psyched up enough not to pass out... so the only thing going through my mind is "Gotta man up! Gotta man up!" 😉

 

[RachGator]

I always prefer getting my blood drawn by a hot chick. 😳 That way I get psyched up enough not to pass out... so the only thing going through my mind is "Gotta man up! Gotta man up!" 😉

I have the crappiest veins so I always want the cranky old man/lady that's been there forever and can get a vein without even looking . Pediatric nurses are good too. They are used to tough sticks. I had 2 people blow right through when I had my tonsils out. The surgeon actually got tired of waiting and came in to do it himself! I was drugged but still found it funny 🙂 .

 

[Rhythm]

Getting blood drawn never bothered me…I guess I’m too curious. Medical procedures fascinate me more than scare me. On the other hand, I’m terrified at the prospect of paying $300 to get my immunizations up to date. I just hope my clinic can dust off my old records…

 

[Jbuprepharm]

I'm just glad that when I checked my records I had already had all of my vaccinations in the past. All I need is a TB test in a couple weeks, I think I can handle that

 

[Thriving]

Another good option to try is your employer. As a pharm tech, my employer required titers for certain vaccines. If I was missing any according to their tests, they provided the vaccines at no charge. Additionally, I had a HIV patient bleed in my pharmacy in the late 1980's that was documented, so I insisted they provide and pay for my Hep B series. It was no problem--gotta love those great employers who take care of their own!

Local health departments are a great source.

I also know of another P1 student who received all of her Hep B's for free from her Pharmacy school!

Just remember to plan your Hep B series around when you'll be available to your vaccine provider if you're going to school away from the area. It'd be rotten to go through the first 2 shots, miss the 3rd and have to start from the beginning again. 👎

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I just learned that my health insurance (through my husband's employer) pays 100% for vaccines when administered by my PCP. I'm thrilled.

It might be worth checking into for others.

 

[DownonthePharm]

Just remember to plan your Hep B series around when you'll be available to your vaccine provider if you're going to school away from the area. It'd be rotten to go through the first 2 shots, miss the 3rd and have to start from the beginning again. 👎

As long as you have your shot records you should be able to get that third shot anywhere. AFAIK its the exact same shot everywhere.

Getting shots doesnt bother me. But like anything else, Im learning that technique matters. The first set of Hep&Tetnus I got my arms were horribly sore for about four days and I had huge bruises at the injection site. The second set (also Hep&Tetnus) didnt bruise at all, and no soreness. So Im attributing all my previous pain to the nurse who said she had just started working there.

Im actually looking forward to learning how to give shots. Oklahoma allows pharmacists to immunize. I dont know how much they do though. 🙂

 

[rxlynn]

Ahhh! Okay, am I the only future pharmacist that doesn't like needles? Heh.. Let me clarify. I have no big problem with shots, I even had a big cortisone shot injected into my shoulder muscle (it was pain relief for an injury, although it made it worse). Shots aren't a problem, but I hate having blood drawn. It's the one medical procedure that I can't actually watch while enjoying my dinner.

The catalog I received to a pharmacy school had a big picture of a student pharmacist giving shots! I didn't know that this was done by a student pharmacist? I am not familiar with any practicing pharmacists giving vaccinations.

Ha, Ha - I always have to tell the nurse to lay me down on an exam table before they even start - I have come close to passing out from the blood draw before.

I had a flu shot from a Kroger pharmacist a couple of years ago. He told me their whole staff of RPhs had gone to a week long training course with CDC to learn how.

 

[kellia]

The catalog I received to a pharmacy school had a big picture of a student pharmacist giving shots! I didn't know that this was done by a student pharmacist? I am not familiar with any practicing pharmacists giving vaccinations.

We actually had a 2 part lab to learn how to give various types of injections. It was actually pretty cool (although we haven't practiced on people... YET!!!) Many states are finally coming around to the idea of pharmacists giving injections.

As far as the immunizations go, just go to the local health dept. They really do have the best price- I shopped around last year and ended up there. The hep shots aren't too bad, because you split them up into three shots given over time. That will help your pocket a little!

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Ha, Ha - I always have to tell the nurse to lay me down on an exam table before they even start - I have come close to passing out from the blood draw before.

I had a flu shot from a Kroger pharmacist a couple of years ago. He told me their whole staff of RPhs had gone to a week long training course with CDC to learn how.

Many Kroger pharmacists were trained and certified to give injections during pharmacy school. University of Ky has had it in their curriculum for awhile.

Kroger sent all of the older pharmacists and those who went to schools that didn't teach injections to a training course.

A lot of Kroger pharmacists hate giving injections. Not sure why.

 

[Trancelucent1]

We actually had a 2 part lab to learn how to give various types of injections. It was actually pretty cool (although we haven't practiced on people... YET!!!) Many states are finally coming around to the idea of pharmacists giving injections.

As far as the immunizations go, just go to the local health dept. They really do have the best price- I shopped around last year and ended up there. The hep shots aren't too bad, because you split them up into three shots given over time. That will help your pocket a little!

That must have been new this year. We only practiced on giving insulin injections...luckily we didn't have to stick ourselves. We also had to practice adding a drug to a bag of NaCl.

 

[kellia]

That must have been new this year. We only practiced on giving insulin injections...luckily we didn't have to stick ourselves. We also had to practice adding a drug to a bag of NaCl.

It was an ICS activity. We learned the differences between how to give sub-cu and IM injections (angle to hold syringe, area of body, how to pinch or compress skin, etc). We practiced by injecting into some type of thick plastic bag that was supposed to resemble the consistency of skin. We also had the lab you mentioned.

Florida was supposed to decide this issue a couple of months ago, but I am not sure of the ruling. If it didn't pass, it eventually will. I feel that this will really be great for our profession. It is a step in the right direction!