Pre-Matriculation Vaccinations

[tiramisucheese]

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So I decided to get my titers done early, and apparently my bout of childhood chicken pox didn't provide sufficient immunity. Currently pouting over the fist-sized red lump on my arm. Anyone else in the same boat?

 

[notreallymyname]

Yup, my tdap expired recently and I’ve got myself a giant welt at the injection site and an incredibly sore arm 🙁 and it’s been over a week!

 

[Robin-jay]

The weirdest part of "titers" is I feel like almost 80% of hospital/clinical personnel don't even know what a "titer" is.

 

[tiramisucheese]

The weirdest part of "titers" is I feel like almost 80% of hospital/clinical personnel don't even know what a "titer" is.

I was seriously surprised by this. Calling to make the initial appointment was nearly impossible.

"Hi, I'd like to make an appointment for some titers."
"Um, what?"
"You know, like to draw blood to see if I'm fully vaccinated?"
"So you just want to get some vaccines?"
"No, I need titers to check the...levels of vaccines?"
"I don't know if we do that here..."

Actual conversation.

 

[tiramisucheese]

Yup, my tdap expired recently and I’ve got myself a giant welt at the injection site and an incredibly sore arm 🙁 and it’s been over a week!

That one is the worst. I've actually had whooping cough and was hoping to avoid the full blown injection, but that's not an option lol.

 

[Robin-jay]

I was seriously surprised by this. Calling to make the initial appointment was nearly impossible.

"Hi, I'd like to make an appointment for some titers."
"Um, what?"
"You know, like to draw blood to see if I'm fully vaccinated?"
"So you just want to get some vaccines?"
"No, I need titers to check the...levels of vaccines?"
"I don't know if we do that here..."

Actual conversation.

Yes, exactly! I had the same conversation!

I almost thought I was saying something incorrect completely when talking to them.

 

[ekmf27050]

I'm apparently one of those lucky folks whose immunity to Hep B is now at sub-acceptable levels. Cue repeat vax and titers.

Also, places that don't accept quantiferon and still require the TB skin plant + return visit are killer on a new employee work schedule

 

[CyrilFiggis]

I was seriously surprised by this. Calling to make the initial appointment was nearly impossible.

"Hi, I'd like to make an appointment for some titers."
"Um, what?"
"You know, like to draw blood to see if I'm fully vaccinated?"
"So you just want to get some vaccines?"
"No, I need titers to check the...levels of vaccines?"
"I don't know if we do that here..."

Actual conversation.

Did your practice have a lab in-house? It's not uncommon for smaller practices to not know, esp if the front office isn't staffed with RNs, NPs, etc.

 

[tiramisucheese]

Did your practice have a lab in-house? It's not uncommon for smaller practices to not know, esp if the front office isn't staffed with RNs, NPs, etc.

They do actually have an in-house lab. The practice isn't private. It's part of a larger hospital network. I guess I was just surprised that it took so long to connect with someone who knew what I was talking about.

 

[longhaul3]

The weirdest part of "titers" is I feel like almost 80% of hospital/clinical personnel don't even know what a "titer" is.

I was seriously surprised by this. Calling to make the initial appointment was nearly impossible.

"Hi, I'd like to make an appointment for some titers."
"Um, what?"
"You know, like to draw blood to see if I'm fully vaccinated?"
"So you just want to get some vaccines?"
"No, I need titers to check the...levels of vaccines?"
"I don't know if we do that here..."

Actual conversation.

Yes, exactly! I had the same conversation!

I almost thought I was saying something incorrect completely when talking to them.

To be fair to the staff, if someone asked me to check the levels of vaccines I might think that he also doesn't know what a titer is.

 

[tiramisucheese]

To be fair to the staff, if someone asked me to check the levels of vaccines I might think that he also doesn't know what a titer is.

Ok? Good thing I asked for titers and not to check the levels of vaccines when I initially called.

 

[longhaul3]

Ok? Good thing I asked for titers and not to check the levels of vaccines when I initially called.

Didn't mean to offend. Just thought it was funny.

 

[Goro]

So I decided to get my titers done early, and apparently my bout of childhood chicken pox didn't provide sufficient immunity. Currently pouting over the fist-sized red lump on my arm. Anyone else in the same boat?

I've had a quite a few students tell me that thy had zero titers of anti-hepatitis B antibodies after the trip of immunizations. My understanding is that this is rather common!

 

[deomnibusdubitandum]

Be careful, word on the street is that vaccinations cause autism........... Haha just kidding

 

[ciestar]

I've had a quite a few students tell me that thy had zero titers of anti-hepatitis B antibodies after the trip of immunizations. My understanding is that this is rather common!

It actually is. I know a lot of people this has happened to!

 

[Pandion]

It actually is. I know a lot of people this has happened to!

Unfortunately yes! Some people don't respond even after the second series.

I needed a booster, but fortunately the first one took and I didn't need to complete the whole second series.

 

[Lannister]

The weirdest part of "titers" is I feel like almost 80% of hospital/clinical personnel don't even know what a "titer" is.

I'm still fighting with my school and doctor's office about Hep B titers halfway through M2.

Me: Hi, I need to schedule an appointment for a Hep B vaccine.
Office: You'll need to get a titer first.
Me: Well, I already know that the titer will come back positive, but my school is requiring that I get the full series again regardless.
Office: ...............You'll need to get a titer first.
Me:

I've had this conversation with the office approximately five times now. And my school keeps sending me emails like "where's your Hep B documentation, you've had ample time to figure this out", like what do you want me to do, there's a schedule and I can't make time go faster!!!

 

[Lannister]

Unfortunately yes! Some people don't respond even after the second series.

I needed a booster, but fortunately the first one took and I didn't need to complete the whole second series.

If I do not have a positive titer after the second series I am dropping out of medical school.

 

[Robin-jay]

I'm still fighting with my school and doctor's office about Hep B titers halfway through M2.

Me: Hi, I need to schedule an appointment for a Hep B vaccine.
Office: You'll need to get a titer first.
Me: Well, I already know that the titer will come back positive, but my school is requiring that I get the full series again regardless.
Office: ...............You'll need to get a titer first.
Me:

I've had this conversation with the office approximately five times now. And my school keeps sending me emails like "where's your Hep B documentation, you've had ample time to figure this out", like what do you want me to do, there's a schedule and I can't make time go faster!!!

Haha exactly. I wish they would require this halfway through undergrad. or something, because the immunization requirements kind of "jump out at you" before matriculation.