Now tetanus booster...

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I just found out that my school is now "requiring" the tetorifice booster or proof that you've had the vaccine within 10 years. Why??? It's not contagious, so I don't understand why they're adding this into what they want done. Any ideas? Irritates me that they try and force people to do this.

I want to say that your school requires it because the hospitals do.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
Tetorifice is given as a stand alone vaccine as a booster in older children and adults.

Are you sure? My understanding of the current standards is that the Tetorifice and Diphtheria boosters are given in a combined vaccine for older adolescents and adults, with that population also encouraged to get the Tetorifice, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster if they have not already done so.

Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Tetorifice/main page

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Are you sure? My understanding of the current standards is that the Tetorifice and Diphtheria boosters are given in a combined vaccine for older adolescents and adults, with that population also encouraged to get the Tetorifice, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster if they have not already done so.

Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Tetorifice/main page

I believe it can be given in stand alone form, but I think that norm is adacel(Tdap).

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Hi CrunchyMama - I'm sorry you have felt attacked by posting in this forum. I think you absolutely have the right to post on these boards and vent, but you need to realize that it's a two-way street and others have a right to post opposing views (maybe not so negatively). There will be those that are more supportive of your sentiments than others, and some more vocal about it.

My post is, in no way, meant to be one of those that makes you feel like I'm attacking your post. But I'm curious to know that with your school, did you not see the required medical clearance items prior to your enrollment in the program?

I cannot imagine any accredited nursing program that does not ask for certain titers to be up to date. My program required that we provided proof of titers every year for these: Tetorifice/Diptheria, MMR, Varicella, Hep B. We also had to get a PPD every year.

And as another poster said, it's mostly because the hospitals require these titers. Without them, you will not be able to attend clinical, and if you don't attend clinical, you will fail the class.

Last year, during the whole H1N1 outbreak, New York State mandated that all health care workers (including nursing students) needed to get the H1N1 vaccine, and many had concerns about getting the vaccine. But according to the hospitals, they would not allow us to attend clinical without it, so I received the vaccine, albeit somewhat unwillingly. Eventually, this mandate was revoked due to all the controversy.

There has been much controversy regarding vaccines since the discredited "research" published a number of years ago in "The Lancet." I believe you have merit in voicing your concerns. In the end, you need to research it and decide what is right for you. If you decide you cannot go through with the vaccine, then you should seriously reconsider your future in the health care field because where ever you find work, I'm positive you will be asked to show proof of titers, and if you don't, you will be required to get vaccinated. If you don't get vaccinated, you will not be permitted to work.

Better that you know this now and decide if you want to go through with nursing school or choose another career path that doesn't require you to show proof of titers.

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Specializes in CVSICU, Cardiac Cath Lab.
You should've stopped typing after the 1st sentence. So you're saying I shouldn't attend any school? Because from what I've seen every school "requires" something. I don't think it's right to say "gee don't go to school because you don't like their rules". I'm NOT going stop my dreams because of this.....I just needed to vent and should've known better then to come here of all places.

Actually, I never said that you shouldn't attend any school. All I was saying is that you have the right to decide what requirements you are willing and able to meet. And I support that right. However, and I think other posters said it better, hospitals do require vaccines/ titers to attend clinical. Therefore, unless you have a documented reason, like an egg allergy, you're pretty much out of luck when it comes to getting through nursing school without meeting vaccination requirements. Not a criticism, simply a statement of fact.

Oh, and I understand that you came here to vent. If it's out here in the public domain, though, we all have to be prepared to entertain the opinions of others.

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Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.
Are you sure? My understanding of the current standards is that the Tetorifice and Diphtheria boosters are given in a combined vaccine for older adolescents and adults, with that population also encouraged to get the Tetorifice, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster if they have not already done so.

Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Tetorifice/main page

There is DTaP or Tdap which is all three and DT or Td (depends on age) which is Diptheria and Tetorifice and I just got that one as a booster. I heard that Tetorifice booster is not usually given alone but can be but it's rare its called TT.

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Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.
Hi CrunchyMama - I'm sorry you have felt attacked by posting in this forum. I think you absolutely have the right to post on these boards and vent, but you need to realize that it's a two-way street and others have a right to post opposing views (maybe not so negatively). There will be those that are more supportive of your sentiments than others, and some more vocal about it.

My post is, in no way, meant to be one of those that makes you feel like I'm attacking your post. But I'm curious to know that with your school, did you not see the required medical clearance items prior to your enrollment in the program?

I cannot imagine any accredited nursing program that does not ask for certain titers to be up to date. My program required that we provided proof of titers every year for these: Tetorifice/Diptheria, MMR, Varicella, Hep B. We also had to get a PPD every year.

And as another poster said, it's mostly because the hospitals require these titers. Without them, you will not be able to attend clinical, and if you don't attend clinical, you will fail the class.

Last year, during the whole H1N1 outbreak, New York State mandated that all health care workers (including nursing students) needed to get the H1N1 vaccine, and many had concerns about getting the vaccine. But according to the hospitals, they would not allow us to attend clinical without it, so I received the vaccine, albeit somewhat unwillingly. Eventually, this mandate was revoked due to all the controversy.

There has been much controversy regarding vaccines since the discredited "research" published a number of years ago in "The Lancet." I believe you have merit in voicing your concerns. In the end, you need to research it and decide what is right for you. If you decide you cannot go through with the vaccine, then you should seriously reconsider your future in the health care field because where ever you find work, I'm positive you will be asked to show proof of titers, and if you don't, you will be required to get vaccinated. If you don't get vaccinated, you will not be permitted to work.

Better that you know this now and decide if you want to go through with nursing school or choose another career path that doesn't require you to show proof of titers.

I'm also wondering about this. My university had this information on the school of nursing website which is available to be viewed by the public. It states the class requirements, needing of a criminal background check, the immunizations required and the type of CPR that is required. This is available to anyone before they even apply to the school. I understand people may have their views on certain subjects and have their opinions about things but if you apply to a school knowing what they require from you beforehand and yet object it would not be the schools fault whatsoever. Sorry you feel this way and I support your decision to not take any immunizations for whatever reason you have, but if the information was present and available then the issue is moot.:yawn:

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Get used to it. My school and hospital require every shot under the sun. Im surprised they havent asked the males for a Gardasil shot haha.

When I started nursing school, I was about 8 shots overdue. I went to doctor, rolled up my sleeves and told the nurse "Take your pic". Not to mention, I was running between school and my doctors office so much, that everyone knows me by name and refused to charge me for the paperwork without/not during an appointment.

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Are you sure? My understanding of the current standards is that the Tetorifice and Diphtheria boosters are given in a combined vaccine for older adolescents and adults, with that population also encouraged to get the Tetorifice, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster if they have not already done so.

Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Tetorifice/main page

You're correct! I'd forgotten they switched to a combined vax.

The Tetorifice Toxoid vaccine is still manufactured and available as many physicians or parents chose to not give combination vaccines due to previous reactions or personal preference. However there is one of the few vaccines for which there is not a thimersol free version.

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