Hep A vaccine required

oops I bradyed again · Jun 17, 2017

I would call the school you're applying to and see if you can continue with the application process if you've at least started your Hep A vaccine. In my program, we were allowed to continue in the process if we could prove we started the series. However, we didn't have to provide proof of vaccines until we were already accepted. Are there other programs you can apply to that don't require proof of vaccines with the application?

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 17, 2017

I had planned my schedule for the past year to include all everything I would need to complete my July 15 application for the Spring semester of 2018 but just found out this school requires Hep A!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!! There is no way I can get both doses which would put me back an entire year!!!!! I AM FURIOUS over such a stupid requirement!!!! Even the CDC does NOT think so. My question is: can I get a vaccine and a titer in one month that will pass the test for a positive titer? Everything I've read says titers should be done 30-60 days after the last but I've also read that one dose is sufficient to cover anybody really so I'm interested to find out your thoughts on this. HELP ASAP PLEASE!!!!

Wow- such emotionally charged language. And trust me- you'd be 'furious -er' if you GOT Hep A. Do you really get furious every time your plans don't work out? Every time someone else's schedule doesn't align with what you want? Because if so- re-think nursing school.

ladyapj, ADN, EMT-I, EMT-P · Jun 17, 2017

Thanks for the suggestion but I did check with the school and they said we either needed to have both doses, 6 months apart, or a titer. They refused to allow anybody to even apply without either even if the applicants could get the last dose before classes even started. That just seems to be so unreasonable to me. I was hoping that one dose would at least give me a good enough titer & then it wouldn't even be an issue. There are 2 other programs but they are about an hour away and they all have different pre-req requirements. I focused on this one in particular because it's 5 minutes from my house and I had never heard of such a requirement before. There are a lot of nurses in my family and none of them have had to have Hep A. I know many, many nurses and none of them have been required to have it either. I'm wondering if they are getting some kind of kick-back from a pharmaceutical company or something because this is just too ridiculous. If the CDC doesn't recommend it, I don't see why they have make such an issue over it. There are a lot of pre-nursing students at this school that just found out too and we are all trying to figure out some way around this or we'll have to wait another year. I know that doesn't sound like a long time to young people but I'm about to be 54 so time is critical to me. I'd like to have my loans paid off before I retire.

ladyapj, ADN, EMT-I, EMT-P · Jun 17, 2017

Thought I had answered this but guess not. meanmaryjean, I may be a pre-nursing student but I've been in healthcare for 35 years so this was a total surprise. And since the CDC doesn't recommend it, I don't feel the need. Not that I mind getting one, but for them to say we have to have 2 doses before we can even apply to the program is just going overboard, especially if both doses can be finished before classes even start. And no, I do not get furious every time my plans don't work out but this is not just a little inconvenience, it's a WHOLE YEAR! Again, not really a problem for younger people but I am about to be 54 so a whole year IS a big deal. I'd like to get my loans paid off before I have to retire and I'd like to get through nursing school before I have to file bankruptcy. I am on my own, not married with an additional income and loans don't cover the cost of living. My credit cards are almost maxed out now so adding an extra year isn't an option for me. Sorry, maybe too much information but since you didn't ask before you commented, I felt the need to explain.

xxstarrynitesxx · Jun 17, 2017

Check with your PCP if at all possible. He or she may be able to give you more information. I have a friend right now going through a similar situation. As I have about a year before I would start my program (after applying and being accepted of course), I am already looking into getting all of my immunizations done early so I do not need to worry about them later on. I plan on checking with my program now to avoid a headache later on.

I think there may be a vaccine for both Hep A and B. It's three shots over a six month period or 3 shots in a month with a booster shot at 12 months. Check into these ASAP! I can definitely understand your frustration!

Even though you say the CDC may not have a recommendation on it, getting the vaccine is there to not only protect you/your loved ones but it is also there to protect your patients. Nosocomial infections can be deadly. You do not want to make an already ill patient worse. Remember, first do no harm. Your school should have made sure to let students know what they did or did not need up front. It is unfair to you and the others as well. I hope you can get your titer!!

OsceanSN2018 · Jun 18, 2017

Couldn't you just get the titer and not the doses? My school required an immunization to be done as any nursing program would but I got all my titers and they came back negative...so I didn't have to be vaccinated again.

verene, MSN · Jun 18, 2017

Breathe. Few things to follow up on:

1) Is the deadline to have both doses complete time of application at July 15th or before program start in spring 2018? The latter provides a much more reasonable time frame to complete both doses. Talk to the program and clarify. It seems odd that they would require all vaccines be complete at time of application - after all they don't yet know which students they will even admit.

2) Are you allowed to provide proof of having started the series? - every employer I've had and every nursing school program I inquired with stated that if I could provide proof of having started a series vaccine (e.g. Hep A or Hep B) I would be accepted provisionally provided I continued to receive and provide proof of additional doses in timely fashion.

3) Talk to your PCP and find out the facts on time for follow up doses and when titers can be completed. Are they able to help you through this vaccination process with your school (e.g. providing paperwork as proof of progress)?

ladyapj, ADN, EMT-I, EMT-P · Jun 18, 2017

I couldn't get an appointment with my PCP until June 30 & the application deadline is July 15. I can get the first dose and a titer (maybe) in time. I can't seem to find any concrete data on the titers. I had titers for Hep B done about 5 year ago when I was working in surgery with my brother-in-law so I'm good on that but Hep A is BS as far as I'm concerned. If it isn't required for paramedics and working in surgery it shouldn't be required for nursing. At this point I just don't see any other option for nursing school. Financially I can't wait another year. I may have to let it go altogether. Thanks for your comments.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 18, 2017

Do you eat southwestern food, food grown in the ground like strawberries you may have already been exposed. Try a titer. Unlike HepB the titer for HepA does not differentiate between immunity due to exposure or vaccination.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 19, 2017

You are wasting mental energy with the whole "CDC doesn't require Hep A". So what? The school DOES- and it's the hoop you currently need to jump through. Also- vaccines are available from other places besides your PCP. You don't have to wait for that appointment.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jun 19, 2017

Several schools around here have started to require Hep A vaccines. Is this a new policy, or something you didn't look into before you decided to apply?