<p>Schools in MA now require meningitis vaccine or signed waiver. I want my DS in CA to have the shot but am having trouble obtaining it. Local pharmacy and local doctor can't get it. HMO told me to call a pharmacy service they use and that service can't get it. Anybody having the same problem???Advice? I do have a call into the health services at the school to ask them...maybe he can get it on arrival in the fall or at orientation this summer.</p>
<p>hmm. I haven't tried to get it yet for my son, but I had no idea it may be hard to find. I had no trouble 3 years ago with my oldest.
I'm in SoCal, too.
I'm surprised your doctor can't get it. I would imagine he would have supplies or contacts with the hospital.</p>
<p>Do you have any idea if the vaccine is just on back order and your Doctor will get it at a later date?</p>
<p>You can Call health services at the school to see if they can provide the vaccine for him once he gets to school.</p>
<p>My son has his college physical scheduled for this Wednesday, and I called the office today to make sure that the vaccine was available, and at my doctor's office here in Ohio they said it wasn't a problem.</p>
<p>I had no trouble getting the "new" vaccine last year (altho I had been warned it would be difficult). But S' college - which required it - would have provided it upon arrival in the fall as a Freshman.</p>
<p>Not backordered, they are just saying they can't get it. I called our local public health dept. and they want 116 dollars to give it. I am going to push my HMO, what do they think I pay their premiums for??</p>
<p>ebee
S was told at his new school it will be available at Health Services in the Fall,so maybe checking at your child's school is the best bet. It will still cost 70-80$ though but what can you do?</p>
<p>3 years ago in Georgia, my son had to go to the county health department and pay $90 for the shot. Also, I was the one who told all my friends about the shot--almost no one had heard of it then. Now, it is recommended for high school students, too, and my 16 year old daughter got the shot at the pediatrician's office during her annual check up. </p>
<p>As far as waiting until your child gets to school--I was told that it takes about 6 to 8 weeks after the shot is given for it to be fully effective. You might look into this and not wait until your child is already at school.</p>
<p>Just a reminder:</p>
<p>The meningitis vaccine does not prevent all meningitis. Be sure to discuss with you child the symptoms of meningitis and do not let them falsely assume they are protected from it. An acquaintance's college daughter died last year - she waited to go to the infirmary and it was too late (although she had received the vaccine).</p>
<p>Thanks everybody. I definitely want it taken care of especially since DS will be 3,000 miles away..</p>
<p>Thanks for the reminder, ebeeeee.
And, good advice, vango. How very sad about your friend. What a tragedy.</p>
<p>Our school is doing meningitis vaccines for thursday/friday this week for college-bound seniors. </p>
<p>They say 1 in 10 who get it, die. So obviously, I'm gettin it, costs 120 bucks, but a good idea by the school to do this instead of goin to a doctor.</p>
<p>My son just got it last Friday in Wisconsin. No problem here. He had an appointment scheduled for his physical and I told him to ask about it. They gave it to him right then.</p>
<p>My S goes to school in Oregon, and although they recommend the vaccine, it does not protect against the most common strains found in the Pacific Northwest.</p>
<p>The one strain the vaccine does not cover is type B. A, C, Y and W135 are covered.</p>
<p>Roberthhid, you seem like you know about this stuff. So what are the symptoms? What should parents tell their kids to watch out for?</p>
<p>For me the shot was optional, you could either get it or sign a waiver. My mom opted for me to get it. I go to a family doctor and he had to go to the pediatricians office in the same building to obtain the shot. If your doctor is in a big clinic, try asking if the pediatricians would have it.</p>
<p>However, they tracked one down for me and I got it. Hurt quite a bit, then again, I'm terrified of needles.</p>
<p>klf1120 - the pediatrician idea may be a good one. We had been warned that it would be difficult to find the vaccine, but S had no problem. However, he was still seeing his pediatrician at the time, who sees adolescents all the way through college (if they want).</p>
<p>
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So what are the symptoms? What should parents tell their kids to watch out for?
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</p>
<p>The problem with meningitis is that it can present as a common cold/flu. I knew someone who died from it after being told by a doctor that it was just a flu. It was no fault of the doctor because the disease does look like a common cold at first. The best way to diagnose is a lumbar puncture, which isn't the most pleasant of procedures (i've assisted with several of these in the ER). A needle is stuck into the spine and cerebral-spinal fluid is taken out to be tested (Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which is the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord).</p>
<p>The most common sign of meningitis is stiff neck (which is also a common complaint for people with colds), as well as general weakness, aches, etc. See how this can be hard to diagnose with just a physical exam?
Here are some signs that should make you worried about meningitis - if you lay on your back on a hard surface and have trouble/lots of pain touching your chin to your chest, coupled with a high fever and/or a skin rash. </p>
<p>Another thing about meningitis - there are two types; bacterial and viral. Viral meningitis is rarely fatal, and doesn't require any major medical care. Bacterial meningitis, however, is extremely serious and can be fatal in a very short time. The good news is that it can be effectively and easily treated with antibiotics if diagnosed quickly.</p>
<p>Get the vaccine!!! We just had a series of articles in our local paper about a girl who was a freshman at UIUC last year and contracted bacterial meningitis during finals and ended up losing her hands and feet. She is a beautiful girl, math major, track and volleyball athlete in high school; now she's happy to be alive and changing her major to kinesiology so she can be an occupational therapist. It was an inspiring story but I am definitely getting the vaccination for my kids before they go to college. </p>
<p>If you want to read it, go to <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com%5B/url%5D">www.news-gazette.com</a> and put meningitis in the search, there's two articles dated 5/7 and 5/8 that will come up. Unfortunately, the pictures aren't online which were a powerful part of the story.</p>