I was wondering how other schools handle Admission Physicals? Is it a requirement before you're accepted or do you wait until you're accepted into a Program?
We took our entrance exam a few weeks ago and the school was supposed to let us know by last week (at the latest) if we're still in the running for their Fall Program so we could schedule a physical and start the Hep. B series. They recommended we submit our physical exam forms to them at least a week prior to the April 16th deadline in case they had any questions/problems, etc. with our forms.
I didn't receive anything from them last week - called them and supposedly they are short staffed and weren't able to send out the test results - but the April 16th deadline for physical exam forms still stand. I quickly called my doc. and had a "Major" physical last Friday. I received the first of the Hep. B Series of Vacc. and tetorifice titer Friday, had tons of immunizations in the Military so that helped out, but my Pediatric Doc. is long gone and I had no record of the immunizations I received for childhood diseases when I was a kid. My Doc. ended up taking quite a few tubes of blood to show proof to the school I've received those vaccines.
My insurance co. doesn't consider the "extra blood-work" part of a normal physical, so I'm guessing they won't cover it and I'm afraid I'm going to have to pay quite a bit out of pocket for those extra tests. To me at least - it seems that requiring someone to have a complete physical and start the Hep. B series, etc. would only come after you've been actually admitted into the program - because especially for those without health insurance - it's a very expensive thing.
My school still hasn't sent anything out about our exam results - so I'm guessing all those I took the exam with are having their physicals, starting the Hep. B series, etc. - all without knowing if we have any chance of getting in. On a few posts I've seen - some people don't have to do this until they receive a letter of acceptance. Just wondering how other schools do this. Thanks, SusanNC
I know I have had all the immunizations, but at 44, I have no idea what my Mom did with that info. I have no idea where they were even given so no way to find them.
How does one go about proving they have had all their immunizations??
Do school records show this?? Immunizations were required here.
Thanks,
MaryRose
If you are not able to track down records, you should get titers to prove immunity. Just a simple blood draw...about three tubes. Results can take a couple of weeks depending on where they are being processes. Check with your school health center to see if they offer discounted labs.
I have my physical scheduled for May. We need complete immunizations or proof of the disease, plus the Hep B vaccines. I've already had a pneumonia vaccine a year ago, plus an updated tetorifice.
I think they mainly just want to know what meds you take on a regular basis, and about any disabilities or issues they should know about. I know I will be telling them about my diabetes, as I'm sure they would want to know if someone had a seizure disorder, etc. I don't feel it's anything to hide, though I've had friends tell me NOT to say anything. Why? If for some reason I had a severe low and couldn't speak (though that has never happened, but no reason to think it couldn't), doesn't it make sense that if they had a clue what was wrong they would know how to treat it? It's nothing I'm embarrassed about. I got it, I have it, I deal with it. It can only be beneficial to me if more people know about it. :)
I was in the hospital in December, and I was really surprised at the number of nurses that had NOT had the flu vaccine. I'd gotten one, obviously, because of my diabetes, and there were many pts there with the flu. I got to talking to some of the nurses, and some swore they would never get one. I found this sort of odd, knowing that it can protect someone.
We don't have to have our physicals until after acceptance. I am still waiting on all the paperwork for my dr. I also know that we have to have the hep. B vaccine but I don't think any others.
I had to get my records from my high school and luckily, the college should have hung on to their copy from when I went there in 2001.
If you are not able to track down records, you should get titers to prove immunity. Just a simple blood draw...about three tubes. Results can take a couple of weeks depending on where they are being processes. Check with your school health center to see if they offer discounted labs.
Thanks for the info. I was getting really worried there for a minute!
We were to have our physical done by the first day of class. If you can't find your records you can get the titers done, but they can be expensive. So it may be cheaper to redo the immunizations, it won't hurt you to get them again. That is what they told us at least. I would ask the Doctors office the price of the titers and figure out the costs of redoing the immunizations and the cost of pain...LOL and decide for yourself which one you want to do.
At 46 I had most of my childhood immunizations at the school. They lined us up and we handed over the papers from our parents saying what immunizations we needed and they gave us our polio sugar cube and shot us and we were on our way. I don't know if the school has those records or not. Luckily I tracked down info on most of mine so all i needed was a second MMR and a tetorifice shot. I have way more sympathy for young children after that experience...LOL
- The actual physical is pretty basic -- shouldn't take more than 5 minutes.
- It's the shots/titers that get expensive.
- My immunization records date from the late 1960's
Hi John,
I already had my physical 2 weeks ago and like you said - it only lasted a few minutes. Like you - I got all my childhood immunizations in the 60's. They said I could call my old high school to get copies of those - but that's 1,000 miles away and I know they'd never be able to dig up 25 year old records and get them here on time (our cut off date is April 16th). I had my military records with me - proof of most of the shots. The Doc. drew blood for titers for the childhood immunizations. I have pretty good insurance and only had to pay my co-pay for the physical - but guessing the titers won't be included and might be pretty expensive.
Whitney - Absolutely let them know about your diabetes, just in case something happened to you in class, they'd know what was wrong. I work with a Nurse who wears a little insulin pouch on her side (not sure what it's called - gives her insulin as she needs it so she doesn't have to keep giving herself shots). Anyways, because she knows so much about the disease (having dealt with it most of her life) - that is her speciality - she visits schools, senior centers, etc. and teaches people about Diabetes and proper nutrition - she loves it....
Whitney - Absolutely let them know about your diabetes, just in case something happened to you in class, they'd know what was wrong. I work with a Nurse who wears a little insulin pouch on her side (not sure what it's called - gives her insulin as she needs it so she doesn't have to keep giving herself shots). Anyways, because she knows so much about the disease (having dealt with it most of her life) - that is her speciality - she visits schools, senior centers, etc. and teaches people about Diabetes and proper nutrition - she loves it....
That's what I have also - an insulin pump. I love my pump!
Does anyone know how long the MMR immunization lasts? I did receive a booster of the MMR when I was 16 during a physical required for all juniors in my high school. I am wondering if that would still be effective?
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Does anyone know how long the MMR immunization lasts? I did receive a booster of the MMR when I was 16 during a physical required for all juniors in my high school. I am wondering if that would still be effective?
Stephanie
I'm thinking about 10 years. I found it easier to just get a booster, rather than hassle with a titer, especially since you might have to go ahead and get the booster anyway.
I had mine done yesterday. For some reason, the TB had me nervous, but all clear!
truern
2,016 Posts
if you had the vaccinations, but you can't find your records have your doctor do blood titers to check for immunities.
there's a reason why you shouldn't have a chicken pox vaccine if you had the disease, but darned if i can remember it ???