<p>My son is now sporting two band-aids on each arm, having just returned from getting his tetanus booster with whooping cough vaccine, hepatitis A & B vaccines, and meningitis vaccine. This was a perfect time for the vaccines as he will need to go back for more shots in one month before he leaves and again in six months, which falls during his Christmas break. We've got eye exams scheduled for July and will be getting contacts through mail order so he can easily get new ones while at school. </p>
<p>I also brought in my younger boy's vaccination record to see if there are any shots he should be getting.</p>
<p>Soon to be freshman S got a card in the mail from his college a few weeks ago saying he was missing the Tetanus w/ whooping cough vacine also. We were told he would not be able to stay in the dorm for freshman Orientation next week if he did not have proof of the shot. We got it the next day and mailed the card back to the school.</p>
<p>I've been giving shots all summer (I've been working at a pediatrician's office)...</p>
<p>Females also may want to think about starting the Gardasil series, in addition to Hep A, meningococcal, and Tdap. At our office, anyway, we've been giving it to pretty much every girl from age 11 to mid-20s.</p>
<p>juba2jive - there was a thread not too far back that discussed the Gardasil series and there were mixed reactions about it, but for the most part, people were encouraging their daughters to take it.</p>
<p>While at my high school reunion a couple of weekends ago, I found out that one of my classmates is a gynecological oncologist affiliated with a large medical center; she has two teenagers, a daughter and son, so I asked her what she planned on doing in regards to her own daughter. She quickly corrected me and said she wanted to get both of them in on the clinical trials, but couldn't because of their ages. But she said she will be starting both of them on the series beginning this summer. </p>
<p>I'm going on July 1st to get tetanus (I'm do for a new one), meningococcal (sp?) meningitis (my college doesn't require it, but they strongly recommend it for dorm residents ((ie me))), and HPV (my doctor's been telling me to get it since just before I turned 16, and I turn 18 this September so I figured I might as well go ahead and have that done too).</p>
<p>My middle & high schools both required that we have hep A, B & C before we could register to attend classes, so I'm good on those. :)</p>
<p>Good reminder. I've been meaning to get the HPV vaccine, and I need to check up on whether I need any boosters. </p>
<p>I've heard some talk on whether it's necessary to get a booster for the chickenpox vaccine. Does anyone know about that? When I was growing up everyone got chickenpox, but for whatever reason I never got it. My doctor gave me the vaccine when I was about 13, right after it came out. </p>
<p>Also have to see the dentist, eye doctor, regular doctor, gyn, and my hematologist... And since I'm only going to be home for a week or so this summer, I guess I'm going to have to see them all at once. :eek:</p>
<p>corranged - they can also run a blood test to see if you show immunity to chicken pox, but they way I see it, they have to poke you with a needle either way, so you can hedge your bets on how many sticks.</p>
<p>HGFM-- You are being very responsible! Good! Just remember that the HPV vaccines are given in a series of 3: the second is two months after the first one, and the third is six months after the first one. BTW-- I have been reading your posts as they have appeared and I wish you all the best in school. You will do great.</p>
<p>Don't let your daughter go for Gardasil shots alone; one of my daughters fainted afterwards as we were leaving the office through the waiting room (very dramatic). I was expecting a reaction from my other daughter when she got her shot; she immediately lay down on the examining table and threw up. They were both fine within about 20 minutes. The literature says this might happen.</p>
<p>^It would be worth checking to see if there is a discount through the county health department. I just called our health department and they said they are currently charging $140/shot. The price goes up or down depending upon how much they have to pay for the vaccine. I also called my family doctor's office and they are charging $206/shot. The savings total $198 over the course of three shots.</p>
<p>Our local pharmacies have also starting offering vaccinations. Check in your area. Visiting the county health department we had to pay a $50 fee plus the vaccination shot. Later found the local pharmacy and local drugstore chains are less expensive as you don't pay a fee for the visit.</p>
<p>There's no fee here for a visit with the health department, just the shot fee. My son's vaccines I mentioned in the first post were each $15. We're lucky. Sounds like some phone calls to find out the costs locally is a good first step.</p>
<p>Muffy, we've been making all the girls who get Gardasil stay in the exam room and sit down for 15 minutes after the shot because of reactions basically like you've described. I think some, but not all, of it may be psychological - a lot of the girls tell us that they've heard from their friends that "it hurts a lot" so that makes them anxious. I started the series myself this summer and I don't think it hurt too badly, although I have a high pain tolerance. You can sort of feel the medicine going through your muscle, so that's a little weird. Nevertheless, we don't want anyone passing out on their way to the car or driving themselves home right after taking it :)</p>
<p>corranged, supposedly the efficacy of the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine goes down over time, so they are recommending booster shots. Here's an article</a> with some more info.</p>
<p>When my D had the Gardasil shots last year, she had no reaction at all. She had friends who passed out, threw up, had pain at the site, etc. and she felt only the needle stick, and slight soreness for a day or two afterwards. (Maybe she had a fake shot......?) Also, my insurance covered the cost for all three. Should I have been surprised at that?</p>