Required School Vaccination Mix-up

Nursing Students General Students

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Argh! So I got into the Nursing Program for fall 2010 and I got all the usual vaccinations and titers. I got the Td shot because that was what was listed. Then my school sent me an email they changed it to Tdap. That's fine, and I went to my doctor, explained the situation and was given the shot. But today I went to the doctor and found out they accidently gave me a second Td shot instead of a first Tdap. :mad: Ugh! Not only that but I had some sort of allergic rxn to it the second time and even though its been two weeks I still have a bump on my arm. So now my doctor says that it would be unsafe for me to have another one and she says they don't have ones that only carry pertussis. So I'm pretty worried right now. I emailed my school but what if they say I need it no matter what? Urgh..

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Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.

If you have a reaction to it and your doctor had deemed it risky to have the Tdap, I don't see how they can have an issue with that.

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Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.

Oh and I don't know what state you live in, but look up vaccination exemptions for your specific state.

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yes, i agree with the above poster. every state offers some sort of exemption. there's some vaccines i don't give my kids, there's laws to protect you. here's the site i have....

state vaccine requirements – national vaccine information center

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How long was it in between these shots?

You have to wait at least 4 weeks in between shots, unless they are all given on the same day. If your doctor gave it to you before 4 weeks, then they have some explaining to do, because that would probably be why you are having a reaction.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

You can get a shot of only pertussis from another source, maybe?

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You can get a shot of only pertussis from another source, maybe?

The school might find it weird to have two doctors stamp the same medical form so I don't think that will work. Your school cannot blame you for the doctor's mistake so I'm sure you'll be fine.

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Whew! They are giving me a year to get the right shot. I just have to have it before my pediatrics class. I think it was about two days short of 4 weeks in between the two shots. I was kind of annoyed at the mistake but I can see how it can get lost in translation. I'm almost certain the girl who gave me it was new. She looked nervous and every time she takes my BP she takes it waaay too fast. I don't mean to judge but I'm always right at 120/80 and she told me I was 100/62. I know I wouldn't be able to get an accurate reading that fast. Anyway, to get back on track, I know the one with pertusis is usually only given to babies so I figure they just said I need a tetorifice and the person who gave me it assumed Td instead of Tdap. If that makes any sense. I think I just talked in a circle. But I feel soooo much better knowing they will give me another year to get it corrected so I don't have it too soon.

Thanks for everyones responses!

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The one with pertussis (Tdap vs. Td) is actually recommended for everyone, since that disease is making a huge comeback - not only among kids but adults as well.

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