Immunization Question??!

[sixela21]

Hello all,

I had a very urgent question about Immunization requirements for starting clinicals. At my school (Georgia State--anyone else who attends please, offer some insight), we were given a list of vaccinations to acquire and/or provide dates for or show titer results. I have all vaccinations and titer results for Varicella and Hep B--problem--Hep B came back non-reactive/not immune! My doctor suggested I get the titer after she couldn't find my results, but I swear I got it as a child around the same time as the MMR, etc. I was even skeptical about getting the Hep B vacc at first, as I've heard that some never really show immunity and are made to be vaccinated several times and do several rounds and even have negative reactions to it. My school gives us the option to elect out of it, and I almost did, but I did not want to play with my acceptance status, so I decided to suck it up and get the titer.

Problem--there are 3 parts to the vaccine, and it's a 6 month course. We were just informed 2 months ago that we needed these vaccinations, and my clinical start by first week of September. Could they keep my from participating for not having the whole series? I could get at least one or two of the first shots before clinicals start, but the last wouldn't be until end of the semester or top of next year when semester is over. No one in the whole department could answer my question, as Program Coordinator is on vacation until next week--when these forms are due!! Help...really frightened about not being able to start after all my hard work =(

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

My school would let you do clinical as long as you had started the series and provided documentation when you finished. I would definitely call your director when she is back!

It may be worth your while to get your titers redrawn after your first shot. You might just need a booster, if you previously completed the series. And I would get the first shot done ASAP. This week.

[meeep, BSN, RN]

Most people don't get a hep B vaccine as a child. It's possible you've never had it. As long as you're on course to complete the series, you'll be able to attend clinical.

[sixela21]

My school would let you do clinical as long as you had started the series and provided documentation when you finished. I would definitely call your director when she is back!

It may be worth your while to get your titers redrawn after your first shot. You might just need a booster, if you previously completed the series. And I would get the first shot done ASAP. This week.

Thank you for your response. Yes, I was thinking the same about getting the titer done after the first shot. I have an appointment scheduled with the Nurse Practitioner tomorrow, so hopefully she can provide some insight, and I will be getting the first shot of the series. I just need to have everything finished up by August 1st (Next Friday), and this is the last vaccine, and then I need my physical. I was told the Program Coordinator will be back by next Tuesday, so I will double check with her, but from what I've gathered so far, I should be ok. Thanks a bunch, guys!!

[sixela21]

Most people don't get a hep B vaccine as a child. It's possible you've never had it. As long as you're on course to complete the series, you'll be able to attend clinical.

Thank you! Yeah, at first my mother thought that I had gotten it, but because it's one of those "optional/elective" vaccines, it turns out I didn't end up getting it after all--she checked. I'm getting the first shot tomorrow, and I believe I'll be ok. All of my other Immunizations are complete, and I'll be able to show that I had a titer done and then followed up with the first round. Hopefully, that's good enough. My school doesn't seem like the type to make a big deal about that sort of thing, although I was surprised no one in the whole department could answer my question because that one person was on vacation! A little strange to me, but we will be doing clinicals at several different hospitals in the city, and I don't want it to become an issue later on. Thank you again!

[Carpediem1012, BSN, RN]

That, and you also don't want to get Hep B

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Most people don't get a hep B vaccine as a child. It's possible you've never had it. As long as you're on course to complete the series, you'll be able to attend clinical.

Most people DO get hep b as a child. But maybe you meant to say that hep B was only added to the childhood vax schedule in the mid nineties ( I think????), so a fair number of adults may not have gotten it?

[3rdGenRN]

Yes, most children now get it, but many nursing students are too old to have gotten it as a child. Most nursing schools require you start the series before clinicals not finish it.