Vaccinations and Health Insurance

[AragornSkywalker]

Im going to start my program in the fall and I need to get my vaccinations out of the way as well as get health insurance.

So regarding vaccinations, which diseases do I need to be vaccinated for? I'm looking for my childhood vaccination records, and I got a bunch last year as a precaution (didnt have my records, figured what the hell...)

I attended california public schools so I should have had some series of vaccinations.

As for the vaccinations I got last year, I got TDAP, HepB(but I didnt go back to finish the series cause my coverage expired), MMR & VZV for Varicella, and Meningococcal conjugate.

The one Im most worrieda bout is Hep B. I coulda swore I learned in Micro that its a series of vaccinations. I dont know if I got it as a child since I dont recall it being a requirement to attend school. But hey, I could be wrong. Anyways, my campus health center offers really good prices so if theres anything Im missing or anything I should get a booster for, I might as well do it now.

Then theres health insurance. I have been on SCHIP since last november, but now that Im 19, Im uninsured. Hasnt been a problem but I need coverage for the program obviously. I was told that once officially accepted, I can be eligable for the national coverage offered by the CNSA (California Nursing Students Association). Problem is I cant seem to find info on their policy. And when I think government program, I think "watered down". Course I could be wrong and hopefully I am...

So any help on this matter would be appreciated. I really hate this stuff. Im an avid bargain hunter and I love rebates and slickdeals and reading reviews, but when it comes to finding insurance, I just wanna

All I find are horror stories...

[caliotter3]

Hep B was probably not available when you were a kid or not required for school. You should consult with your doctor about finishing the series. As for the others, those are the ones that are listed on the form I have to have for my current clinical, so I think you are covered as long as you have the shot record annotated to reflect your current status.

[AragornSkywalker]

Ok cool, Ill double check with my program to be sure Hep B is all I need.

What about Hep A? We dont need that?

[caliotter3]

Hep A not needed for program; only needed if there is reasonable expectation of exposure as I was told.

[no1shome]

for my program it is:

MMR

T/D

Hep B

Vericella

i had a titer done for the MMR; got the T/D shot; signed a waiver for the vericella (i had chicken pox as a child).

for the Hep B, it is a 3-series shot - the first two shots give you the immunity, and the 3rd is more like a booster shot. I recieved the first 2 last year, and never got the last - I did a titer this year, and it was positive. If you miss a shot, you don't have to start the series over, just continue from where you left off.

Hep A is only if risk of exposure is high.

[UVA Grad Nursing]

Contact your school's student health office --- they likely have the list of vaccinations required for health students in your state. They will likely be the office that retains and monitors your health records (in this post-HIPAA days, access to health records is greatly restricted).

Vaccination requirements will vary from state to state. Here in VA, all college students under a certain age need a meningococcal vaccene. There are also certai requirements for medical and nursing students that are different from other students.

Definitely start the Hep B series sooner than later. I believe that you need 3 vaccines spread over several months before uou have enough antibodies to be detected in a titer.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Definitely need the Hep B series.... also, you need a polio vaccination. They will probably ask you for titers of your varicella, MMR, and pertussis.