[RNursingStudent]

Most places can't MAKE you get immunizations. You will, though, have to sign a waiver and they will not be held responsible if you do contract during clinicals, which I totall agree with. But, do check with your school.

[HM2Viking]

Originally Posted by Peeps Mcarthur

Let me be clear,

I am going through the Hep B series. I have finished the second and will have the third in November(within the 4 month window since the first) and then get the titre.

I do want to have the vaccine.

I am complying with the protocol, but my school is insisting that I sign that I refuse the vaccine , understand the risks of refusing the vaccine,and take full responsibility for my refusal.

It seems to relinquish the responsibility of the clinical site and my school for unsafe conditions that would expose me.

If I do not sign that I refuse the vaccine(which is a lie) then I cannot attend clinicals. I am on my own.

I think that you probably will just have to sign the statement.

Check the CDC pink book chapter on Hep B. Basically it says that you can accelerate the series (see page 221)
Dose 1.
Dose 2 4 weeks later
Dose 3 8 weeks later
(Dose 3 should be no sooner than 16 weeks from dose 1)

I would print off a copy of page 221 from the CDC pink book and take it to your clinic. Ask for the third dose early and be ready to show them that the series can be accelerated. Bring your updated shot card to your school and hopefully that will just put the issue to rest.

[ms mimi]

i had to sign the waiver because i had not completed the last shot before clinicals, but i just completed the series so now next semester i can sign the form for completed series.

[masstudent]

I am surprised none of your colleges require you to have the Hep B series to attend. I thought a lot of schools were now requiring new students to have it along with the meningitis vaccine.

I found it interesting to hear that people can have the 3 Hepatitis B shots and still not have immunity according to a titer. I must have passed since I was never called back.

For those of you who are finding the shots expensive, have you looked into doing volunteer work at your local hospital? I know when I did volunteer work on Pedi and then in the ER (they really encouraged it when I worked in the ER) that it was provided to me free of charge just like the TB tests and flu shots.

[alpayton]

My school requires either the Hep B series or the waiver form to be signed before you can attend clinicals. I have already had the 3 shot series but had the titer done when they were doing the other titers that were required (MMVR) and haven't heard back from those yet. Probably will hear from those tomorrow when I go back for my second TB skin test as they now require 2 negative tests before it's for sure a negative if you haven't had a negative test in a while (I couldn't tell you when the last TB test I had was). So we shall see.

[leslasic]

[quote=vtprenursingstudent]
I found it interesting to hear that people can have the 3 Hepatitis B shots and still not have immunity according to a titer. I must have passed since I was never called back.quote]

Don't be so sure that just because you haven't been "called back" you are immune. Unless the titer was drawn, you won't know whether you have immunity. I had participated in 3 semesters of clinicals assuming I had immunity as well, but there had never been a titer drawn.

I recommend everyone get a titer. Period.

[marilynmom]

Originally Posted by vtprenursingstudent

I am surprised none of your colleges require you to have the Hep B series to attend. I thought a lot of schools were now requiring new students to have it along with the meningitis vaccine.

I found it interesting to hear that people can have the 3 Hepatitis B shots and still not have immunity according to a titer. I must have passed since I was never called back.
.

Well no one HAS to get any vaccination.

As far as not getting immunity from the vaccine, you wouldn't know unless they did a titer after your shot series was complete (which I think is a month after your last shot in the series??)--a lot of places don't do that so there are people who think they are protected, yet are not. The vaccine is 85-95% effective and also about 5% on top of that never show antibodies to begin with--so that is actually quite a few people who have no response to the vaccine. Just because they didn't call you back doesn't mean ANYTHING.

[marilynmom]

Originally Posted by leslasic

I recommend everyone get a titer. Period.

I agree. If you don't even know if your immune or not, what is the point? You could be walking around assuming your protected when in fact, your not.

[JaxiaKiley]

That is so strange. I wouldn't do it.

At my school, you only have to be in the process.

My sister has gone through the shots several times, and still doesn't have an immunity.

[valifay]

It proably has to do with the fact you have not completed the series prior to your cinicals. Ask them if that is why they need you to sign. I would tell them you have started the series and will sign as long as your imm. records are attached. My work knows I have had the shots and had me sign the waiver refusing it so they know I will not be getting the series from them. But my shot record is attached to this form showing I have had it and refuse to have them give me the series. I think its just standard language on a refusal form stating you are aware of the risks of not having it.