They are trying to force the DTaP vaccine on me.

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I'm trying to register for the last semester of classes at the university, but they won't let me until I have the DTaP vaccination.

Whether you believe in vaccinations or you don't, this really isn't about that. It's about trying to reason with beaurocracy.

When the woman (I don't know if she was an instructor or part of the clerical staff) told me that it wasn't the school's rule, I asked her who's rule it was. She told me it was the rule of the hospital where the clinicals would take place.

#1. This seems odd to me, because I was hired on at this very same hospital (I don't work there now, no I wasn't fired) and getting a DTaP vaccine never came up.

#2. I only have one class to take (Professional Leadership) and I'm most certain it is not going to require going to the hospital.

#3. What was with all this crap shoved down our throats in Community Health Nursing about respecting and honoring diversity and others' beliefs, even those such as JWs who don't accept blood products?

#4. I read one of the SE's can be seizures. Since I already have seizures (the staring kind) I wouldn't think I should expose my little body to more substances that might cause more seizures-wonder of that would be a valid argument?)

Thimerosol hasn't been used as a preservative in vaccinations since 2001. As others have said, however, talk to your PCP about it. I also was employed at a hospital prior to nursing school (I was a sitter) and was not required to be vaccinated, but I suspect it's because I wasn't due for any boosters at that time. Now that I'm in school, I was required to have DTaP and a varicella titer and several other procedures done to prove that I'm not a danger to my patients. And it was indeed the hospital's requirement.

Then I don't know why they refused to give the flu vaccine to people who were allergic to thimerosol at the flu vaccination clinic I participated in just a few weeks ago.

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Specializes in thoracic, cardiology, ICU.

it's still found in multi dose vials... the single dose vials don't really need it. I think most doctors offices just have the single dose vials around, but for flu clinics and such they have the multi dose ones

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I'm totally on your side, GoLytely. We're supposed to respect the rights of our patients to refuse recommended treatments. We deserve the same right to self-determination, even when it may go against the mainstream, which often ends up changing its position in 20 years anyways.

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it's still found in multi dose vials... the single dose vials don't really need it. I think most doctors offices just have the single dose vials around, but for flu clinics and such they have the multi dose ones

Then I'm going to have to be allergic to eggs. Or shellfish.

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to be honest i'm kind of surprised that you're so resistant to something that's designed to protect you, though i understand the concern over your history of seizures. But most side effects beyond a sore arm are pretty rare.

This may be kind of off topic, but I have to disagree. I am allergic to very few things and the DTaP vaccine made me break out in hives for a week this past September......(yes, I am sure it was the vaccine, was the only new thing introduced into me at that time):o

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Were you not given a list of vaccine requirements at the beginning of your education program?

I agree that no school or employer has the right to force a vaccine on a student or employee, but they do have the right to deny un-vaccinated students and employees access to the clinical site, for the sake of protecting their patients from infectious disease. Have you ever seen a baby with whooping cough? It is a pitiful sight.

If you have a legitimate medical reason not to receive the vaccine, then a note from your personal physician is all that is needed. If you are unable to obtain a medical excuse from your physician, then perhaps you will need to investigate alternate clinical sites. I understand that this may be difficult to accomplish on short notice, but it seems unlikely that this the first you have been notified of this requirement.

Good luck.

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Were you not given a list of vaccine requirements at the beginning of your education program?

I agree that no school or employer has the right to force a vaccine on a student or employee, but they do have the right to deny un-vaccinated students and employees access to the clinical site, for the sake of protecting their patients from infectious disease. Have you ever seen a baby with whooping cough? It is a pitiful sight.

If you have a legitimate medical reason not to receive the vaccine, then a note from your personal physician is all that is needed. If you are unable to obtain a medical excuse from your physician, then perhaps you will need to investigate alternate clinical sites. I understand that this may be difficult to accomplish on short notice, but it seems unlikely that this the first you have been notified of this requirement.

Good luck.

When I knew of the requirement isn't an issue.

I've seen a baby with whooping cough. I'm not going to give a baby whooping cough regardless of whether I have the vaccine or not.

I don't believe I even have to go to the hospital for this class. I just called and asked the secretary and she is checking on it for me.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

At my last job we had to get DTAP. Whooping cough is making a comeback. Go to your doctor. Discuss the issue with the vaccine. Get his/her opinion. If he/she thinks it's best you don't get the vaccination, have him write a letter.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
When I knew of the requirement isn't an issue.

Yes, it is. You indicate a problem with registering for next term because of the lack of this vaccine. Had you addressed the issue a year or two or three years ago when you first enrolled and were informed of your program's requirements, it would not stand in the way of your completing your education now.

I don't believe I even have to go to the hospital for this class. I just called and asked the secretary and she is checking on it for me.

It's nice of the secretary to check into this for you. If I were her, I wouldn't feel much of a sense of urgency to check into this for a student who has known the requirements for months or years. I sincerely hope that you get a favorable decision and will be able to complete your studies. If you take the time to properly address this issue by getting a physician's note now, you will save yourself untold grief when you apply for jobs and have to be cleared by Occupational Health to begin your orientation.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

While vaccination is something I am strongly for, I like to believe I respect the wishes of those who don't vax. Doesn't make me happy, but to each their own.

Speak to the person at the hospital who is in charge of clinicals and find out their rules, mention it is not a rule for employees, and get it in writing, then bring it back to the school.

Here (NC), you have to have a medical or religious exemption to not get vax's. They don't make you prove anything on the religious, but it has to be religious (but you can certainly fib and say it's religious when it's actually personal). I would assume public schools at the college level would be the same.

Good luck!

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How on earth did you complete clinicals without being required to have the shot in the first place? It seems this might have been an oversight on the schools side and is just now catching up with you.

My nursing school required us to provide proof of immunizations before we could even be admitted into the nursing program. Anyway I hope it works out for you.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.
When I knew of the requirement isn't an issue.

I've seen a baby with whooping cough. I'm not going to give a baby whooping cough regardless of whether I have the vaccine or not.

I don't believe I even have to go to the hospital for this class. I just called and asked the secretary and she is checking on it for me.

I hope they let you go by without it.

Few issues I wanted to add to some other posts I've seen-

1. You're communicable with pertussis BEFORE symptoms start.

2. Your mild cough that persists could be pertussis and you might not realize it, so if you think "well, if I start whooping I'll stay home", wrong.

3. There are still a LOT of healthcare facilities that do not require tdap's yet. My husbands hospital does not. I got mine a few weeks before my boss sent out the email that we'd be required to get it as well.

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