Question about titers and shots

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Specializes in telemetry/med surg.

OK. I have a question about all the shots and titers and such that I need for the LVN program. I currently work in a hospital. I have already had the TB skin test, and the Hep B series ( 2 out of the 3 shots required). On my health form that I have to turn in, it lists Tetorifice-Diptheria, MMR, and Hep B titer. Do I do the titer now, or after the third shot? Also, the tetorifice and MMR, I know I had as a child, but nothing at all within the last ten years, so do I automatically get a booster for those? and not that it matters, but how bad do they hurt LOL? Really really sore, or just a little sore?

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

You should be asking your school these questions.

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Specializes in telemetry/med surg.

Of course I will ask them when the school reopens, but being that they are closed today, I figured someone might have some insight

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Specializes in IMCU.
You should be asking your school these questions.

Ditto

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I think maybe your doctor could tell you which route is the best one for you to take...since the school is closed and you can't ask them. Good luck--I'm dealing with the same thing myself.

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Specializes in telemetry/med surg.

Its no big deal, no rush or anything, I was just wondering what the usual step is if you have already had the shots, if its just a booster thats needed.

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You have to have the titers done first and then that'll determine if you need boosters. I had titers done for MMR, Hep B and Varicella and they determined I had no immunity to varicella and about 95% immunity to Hep B so I'm getting a booster for that. My last Hep B shot was in 2002.

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Specializes in telemetry/med surg.
You have to have the titers done first and then that'll determine if you need boosters. I had titers done for MMR, Hep B and Varicella and they determined I had no immunity to varicella and about 95% immunity to Hep B so I'm getting a booster for that. My last Hep B shot was in 2002.

thank you! I don't even know if my hospital does titers or if I have to go to the health department, I guess I will be calling them first thing in the morning!~

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I went to my general physician who has to fill out my school paperwork. He gave me the order to get the blood titers at a lab.

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Specializes in IMCU.

I just had 1 titer for chicken pox. The did not ask for titers for hep B or anything else just proof of vaccination (I had the full hep B series).

Titers can be expensive -- keep a copy of the results in your file at home. Sometimes it is cheaper to do them at Concentra or a similar place. Check out concentra.com and look under patient services. The Concentra in my city gives a discount to CNA, Nursing and medical students from the local colleges.

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Ask your school's health center first, I had a bunch of friends that tried getting out of it or got confused and they had to register last! titers are insanely expensive. I had to have a chicken pox titer and it was 180 alone. Tetnus shots dont really hurt, they just feel like you have been lifting weights for 2-3 days

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Specializes in CRNA, eventually.

Most hospitals provide employees with the needed vaccines/boosters if you didn't test postive for the titers for free. I got all of my needed shots when I started working at my hositpal about 2yrs ago. You should definately call your hospital's occ health dept to see if you can get these done for free. Also, my school provides vaccines at orientation for those who need, but at $55, so check w/your school too.....Good luck

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