Rabies Shots

[AbbeyRoad]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello everybody! For all of you that plan to matriculate this fall, where are you getting your rabies vaccination? I don't want to get them from UPenn because they charge $420 (as they said on their website) and my friend told me they are cheaper if you don't get them through the school. But I don't think you can get them from your physician...or can you?
If it is no cheaper than getting it done at the school I could probably just get it there, but I would prefer to get it done over the summer and not have to worry about it.
Thank you!!

 

[StealthDog]

I had to get my rabies shot series last year to work in a wildlife rehab clinic... I was able to go through my regular clinic, but I had to call in advance because it wasn't an immunization they usually have on hand. However, if I'd been in a big city, I could have gone to a travel clinic since the usually do have it on hand. My insurance covered a lot of it, so it ended up being about $80 per shot (still expensive, but important!).

Good luck,

~m

 

[chris03333]

Hello everybody! For all of you that plan to matriculate this fall, where are you getting your rabies vaccination? I don't want to get them from UPenn because they charge $420 (as they said on their website) and my friend told me they are cheaper if you don't get them through the school. But I don't think you can get them from your physician...or can you?
If it is no cheaper than getting it done at the school I could probably just get it there, but I would prefer to get it done over the summer and not have to worry about it.
Thank you!!

I got the papers from the school that said I was required to have the vaccination for school and my insurance covered it through my regular doctor. Some people were not able to do that so it depends on your insurance. The best thing to do is to call your doctor/insurance carrier and find out. Also the local health department will also do the vaccinations, they may discount it with documentation of it being a reuirement for school (our health dept did it for $300 for those that went there, not cheap but less than the $450 you have to pay at the school).

 

[PAThbrd]

I got the papers from the school that said I was required to have the vaccination for school and my insurance covered it through my regular doctor.

Ditto. (Although I haven't actually done it yet!)

Abbey, we're going to be classmates! 🙂

 

[AbbeyRoad]

Ditto. (Although I haven't actually done it yet!)

Abbey, we're going to be classmates! 🙂

Awsome! I will see you there!

Thanks a lot everyone for the replies. I am definitley going to check with my insurance co. first. 🙂

 

[DVM2b]

I got the papers from the school that said I was required to have the vaccination for school and my insurance covered it through my regular doctor. Some people were not able to do that so it depends on your insurance. The best thing to do is to call your doctor/insurance carrier and find out. Also the local health department will also do the vaccinations, they may discount it with documentation of it being a reuirement for school (our health dept did it for $300 for those that went there, not cheap but less than the $450 you have to pay at the school).

My regular doctor doesn't do them so I have to go through the health department. The shots are $161 per shot and $20 for them to give it to you. My insurance doesn't consider it medically necessary so I have to pay for it. 😡

 

[2Bsure]

For the next few months, I'm still covered under my mother's plan. She decided to call to see whether a rabies was covered, but the agent seemed very confused and thought she was asking about the emergency rabies shots. I'm still not sure how much the vaccine will cost, but I hope I can find a better deal than $150 for each of the three shots.

 

[chris03333]

My regular doctor doesn't do them so I have to go through the health department. The shots are $161 per shot and $20 for them to give it to you. My insurance doesn't consider it medically necessary so I have to pay for it. 😡

Boy that bites, I am sorry. Do you have an HMO or PPO? If PPO and you can find a doctor that can order it, they can also try to talk your insurance into it (the doctor can declare it medically necessary due to school requirements/risk assessment). Or you can try to see if your own doctor will try to talk the insurance company to cover it and order it by perscription. I had Kaiser at the time and they even waved the doctor visit charge by making my appointments nurse appointments so I just came in the three times, saw the nurse and got the injections. This made the series free. I know of a few people with California versions of Blue Cross insurance that had similar experiences.

 

[ynci]

My regular doctor doesn't do them so I have to go through the health department. The shots are $161 per shot and $20 for them to give it to you. My insurance doesn't consider it medically necessary so I have to pay for it. 😡

Hey DVM2b, are you going to get the health insurance through the U? They said we're required to get the student insurance (800/semester) if we're not covered through a parent's or spouse's employee health plan. The student plan covers the rabies shots and they'll have a vaccination clinic after school starts. I hope that helps!

 

[DVM2b]

Boy that bites, I am sorry. Do you have an HMO or PPO? If PPO and you can find a doctor that can order it, they can also try to talk your insurance into it (the doctor can declare it medically necessary due to school requirements/risk assessment). Or you can try to see if your own doctor will try to talk the insurance company to cover it and order it by perscription. I had Kaiser at the time and they even waved the doctor visit charge by making my appointments nurse appointments so I just came in the three times, saw the nurse and got the injections. This made the series free. I know of a few people with California versions of Blue Cross insurance that had similar experiences.

I am on my parents insurance and I have a PPO but that doesn't seem to matter. Maybe if I send something from the school stating the school feels it is medically necessary, they will cover at least part of it, I hope.

 

[chris03333]

I am on my parents insurance and I have a PPO but that doesn't seem to matter. Maybe if I send something from the school stating the school feels it is medically necessary, they will cover at least part of it, I hope.

I only mention the PPO because that means you can go to another doctor if your normal doctor "doesn't do that". If you had HMO you have to go to your assigned doctor, where most PPOs let you go to any doctor. Anyways hope it works out for you.

 

[traxomatic]

i would think that most hospitals give the vaccine. i had mine done for free at upenn's hospital before i started volunteering at VHUP.

 

[mokadet]

VA-MD has a program where they pay half the cost. Through this program the student cost last year was $263.

 

[LynnKat]

Hey it seems like lots of us are going to be classmates 🙂. I've had my shots but if you are getting student insurance through UPenn they cover rabies. See :http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/vaccine.html. The little star next to the rabies means covered by PSIP which is student insurance.

If you're getting student insurance anyway this is apparently really easy and they set up to immunize all the vet students who need it.

 

[Boxsterluv]

OK, I have a question for those of you that have received the rabies vaccination already... Is it a series of 3 shots or is it just one shot? The health department told me that it was 3 shots, but then the nurse at my doctor's office said that the 3 shot series is for after you've been bitten by a possibly rabid animal, and that the vaccination I am looking for should only be one shot... What did you guys get?? I want to get the right thing!

 

[chris03333]

OK, I have a question for those of you that have received the rabies vaccination already... Is it a series of 3 shots or is it just one shot? The health department told me that it was 3 shots, but then the nurse at my doctor's office said that the 3 shot series is for after you've been bitten by a possibly rabid animal, and that the vaccination I am looking for should only be one shot... What did you guys get?? I want to get the right thing!

It is 3 for pre exposure and 5 for post exposure (unless you are vaccinated then post is 2) Confusing enough 😳

Basically you need the 3 series for vet school. 🙂

 

[laurafinn]

My health insurance didn't cover the vaccine itself, but did cover the three doctor visits. It ended up being around $400-450 total.

 

[Quaggi]

OK, I have a question for those of you that have received the rabies vaccination already... Is it a series of 3 shots or is it just one shot? The health department told me that it was 3 shots, but then the nurse at my doctor's office said that the 3 shot series is for after you've been bitten by a possibly rabid animal, and that the vaccination I am looking for should only be one shot... What did you guys get?? I want to get the right thing!

interestingly, health professionals in regular hospitals/doctors offices are pretty clueless when it comes to rabies vaccines. i was vaccinated in 2001, and have a strong titer, but this summer i was exposed to a rabid fox so i went to the hospital to get a booster shot. basically the doctor had no idea what i was talking about and it took him about 20 minutes of searching through some computer program to realize what i needed...considering there is a pretty bad rabies epidemic where i was, and in general it's a huge public health issue, i was really disappointed with the hospital's lack of knowledge on it. but yea it is a series of 3 shots to get vaccinated.

 

[Bill59]

Routine boosters are no longer recommended. The current recommendations call for serologic testing and administering a booster only if your antibody titer is below a certain level (1:5). The frequency of testing depends on your specific risk level but for most veterinary workers is every 2 years.

 

[katemez]

Hi Laura,

I'll be heading to Massey in a couple months, so I look forward to meeting you! Anyway, I saw your post earlier about getting rabies shots... so does that mean NZ also requires rabies vaccinations for vet students? I was under the impression that NZ was one of the few "rabies-free" countries. Did you get your shots in the US or NZ? So far Massey hasn't mentioned anything to me about it, but that's not surprising--I haven't received very much info unless I ask directly.

Are you enjoying it down there so far? I'm incredibly excited... I've never been to New Zealand, which makes picking up and moving there even more of an adventure.

-Kate

 

[miltonmcdougall]

Owww. Shots hurt. I don't wanna.

 

[PAThbrd]

Owww. Shots hurt. I don't wanna.

My sentiments exactly! 😉

 

[UKYWildcat]

My sentiments exactly! 😉

They're really not that bad...and I've done both, vaccinations AND post exposure. I showed virtually no titer after working on a rabid horse last year so I had to go through post exposure....oh so NOT fun but definitely could have been worse!

 

[Bill59]

I hear having rabies is not so fun either.

 

[vet2b84]

Hi,

I am going to Ohio State in the fall and just wanted to see if anyone was familiar with their requirements for rabies shots. I couldn't tell from looking around on the website if the vaccine needs to be gotten before starting the first year or if it is needed at a later point. Thanks.

Jen

 

[chris03333]

Hi,

I am going to Ohio State in the fall and just wanted to see if anyone was familiar with their requirements for rabies shots. I couldn't tell from looking around on the website if the vaccine needs to be gotten before starting the first year or if it is needed at a later point. Thanks.

Jen

Most schools require vaccination before you start, unless you won't be handling animals. Then 2 years later you get titers pulled to see if you need boosters. Call Ohio's admission people to find out. Usually they have a list of health requirements you have to get done prior to starting school.

 

[UKYWildcat]

Hi,

I am going to Ohio State in the fall and just wanted to see if anyone was familiar with their requirements for rabies shots. I couldn't tell from looking around on the website if the vaccine needs to be gotten before starting the first year or if it is needed at a later point. Thanks.

Jen

I don't think it has to be done before school starts - I know some OSU first years that have just started the series in the last few weeks. Call student affairs and ask would probably be your best bet.

For anyone that has previous rabies vaccination, how are you going about things? I honestly haven't asked yet so I'm not sure if proof of vaccination (he he, I feel like the dog going to training class...) and post exposure will be enough or if they'll make me have titers run? Guess that's one more thing for my "to do list" Oye...

 

[Gr8DaneGirl]

I don't think it has to be done before school starts - I know some OSU first years that have just started the series in the last few weeks. Call student affairs and ask would probably be your best bet.

For anyone that has previous rabies vaccination, how are you going about things? I honestly haven't asked yet so I'm not sure if proof of vaccination (he he, I feel like the dog going to training class...) and post exposure will be enough or if they'll make me have titers run? Guess that's one more thing for my "to do list" Oye...

There is total confusion for Davis. The website says all vacs must be complete before you start school or you can be prevented from registering. I called, they said I can wait to get Rab when I get there, so I should call the student health center (Frankly, the lady I spoke w/ in the dept was rude and not very helpfull). The student health center said, it has to be done before you start!!!

To make matters worse, the vac will be $150/shot w/o student insurance and $80 w/ insurance. BUT, the insurance doesn't kick in untill after the 1st day of classes. So its $450 vs. $240.

Finally, I just decieded to get it done through my family doctor, which is costing my $410, since my insurance delined to pay. I figure its not worth the risk, I don't want to be told I cannot register.

 

[HorseyVet]

Finally, I just decieded to get it done through my family doctor, which is costing my $410, since my insurance delined to pay. I figure its not worth the risk, I don't want to be told I cannot register.

It would suck if one of those corpses you work with the first year jumped up, bit you and gave you rabies....then we'd have to cut its head off and...wait..you already disected the head....whoops...you're doomed

 

[chris03333]

It would suck if one of those corpses you work with the first year jumped up, bit you and gave you rabies....then we'd have to cut its head off and...wait..you already disected the head....whoops...you're doomed

I don't know about Davis in particular but quite a few vet schools have you working with live animals in first year also.