Immunizations/titers for nursing program

I have a friend in the same boat. She decided just to get re-vaccinated because it was much cheaper than the titers.

OR.....is it okay for me to just get all the vaccines again? I hear the titer immunity blood test can be very expensive.

EDIT:

Thanks for your fast reply adf96..that's what I was thinking. I just wasn't sure if it was 'bad' to possibly get a 2nd dose of a vaccine.

Does the school you are applying require all immunizations before you apply?

The reason I ask is because I was just accepted to a nursing program and they gave us a list of places that offer discounts on titers and vaccines to the nursing students. That may be something worth looking into. I believe the titers were 20 bucks or something.

Just as an example; Weatherford College offers these prices to those applying to Weatherford College. So, you might want to check and see if something like this is offered closer to you. Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Hepatitis B, and Varicella Titer are $14.00 each. So, you could start with the Hep B and then do each a little at a time; since you have awhile before you need them complete

Briterz, did you get this figured out? I am about to head into the third semester at BHC, where we do our pediatric clinicals and Children's Medical Center is VERY PARTICULAR about what immunizations you need and what titers. As someone said before, titers are very expensive and BHC does not offer any discount for them. private message me if you can and we can go from there. By the way- just going ahead and getting the immunizations sounds the easiest, but you will end up needing a titer for one or two of those anyway (redundant, right?)

-Kaytee

Sweetpea1301 do you have knowledge of where I can go for a titer at a discounted price in the dfw metroplex??? Your help will be greatly appreciated.. i

If you see the school nurse at Brookhaven, she can give you a referral to Neighborhood Medical Clinic at Preston/Belt Line in Dallas (http://www.neighborhoodmedicalcenter.com/). If you just show up at the clinic, they will send you back to her to get the referral. I don't know if you have to be a student for the referral, but nurse Kelly is very nice. You might also look into MetroCrest Family Medical Clinic (http://mfmclinic.com/index.htm) in Farmer's Branch- they are a clinic for people without insurance, and are staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses. Office visit costs are donations, and there is no set price- they just suggest a donation of $10 (at the minimum). I don't know if they provide titers, but you can ask. The clinic is also a partner for BHC's service learning (student volunteerism).

Even at a discount, titers are expensive. Make sure that you get QUANTITATIVE titers, that is results with numerical lab values, not just a "IgG Positive/Negative" result. Certain immunities are required to be within a certain range, which I don't know of.

I am actually in the process of becoming a volunteer at Parkland and they will do all the immunizations I need for free. I specifically asked what they will do if I have no shot records and the coordinator said that the occupational health center at Parkland will do the titers, again at no cost to me.

FYI: if others plan on going this route, you have to commit to 100 volunteer hours and if you do not complete those 100 hours (get fired/quit) you will have to pay out of pocket for all the immunizations, tb test, chest xray (if needed), etc.

I am not volunteering just so I can get free shots though. I am volunteering because I think it's a great way to gain hospital experience :)

if you see the school nurse at brookhaven, she can give you a referral to neighborhood medical clinic at preston/belt line in dallas (http://www.neighborhoodmedicalcenter.com/). if you just show up at the clinic, they will send you back to her to get the referral. i don't know if you have to be a student for the referral, but nurse kelly is very nice. you might also look into metrocrest family medical clinic (http://mfmclinic.com/index.htm) in farmer's branch- they are a clinic for people without insurance, and are staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses. office visit costs are donations, and there is no set price- they just suggest a donation of $10 (at the minimum). i don't know if they provide titers, but you can ask. the clinic is also a partner for bhc's service learning (student volunteerism).

even at a discount, titers are expensive. make sure that you get quantitative titers, that is results with numerical lab values, not just a "igg positive/negative" result. certain immunities are required to be within a certain range, which i don't know of.

thank you so much sweetpea1301 for all the helpful info. greatly appreciated.

I'm in Houston...so I got mine at a small neighborhood clinic that is specific for non insured patients and does low cost office visits etc..

My chickenpox titer was around $30 a bargain compared to getting the shots again!

I agree start early on this though. Some of these vaccines/titers need to be done at certain intervals or not within so many days of one another.

Hep B : for all 3 takes about 5-6 months to complete.

did you make a call to Neighborhood Medical Clinic at Preston/Belt Line in Dallas or MetroCrest Family Medical Clinic for checking titer cost? if you don't mind please share the information for us