<p>Thought it would be helpful to mention two things that came up when I took my son for his physical today.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>UA requires a TB test, which means your child must be able to go back to the doctor 48 hours later to have it read. Something to keep in mind when you make your appointment. </p></li>
<li><p>Our Dr. asked my son if he wanted to get the Gardasil vaccine. Since this was only approved for men/boys last October, my doctor didn’t have a strong enough knowledge base to have a strong opinion either way yet. It’s a series of 3 shots, the second 30 days after the first and then the 3rd six months after the second. There is not a lot of play in the time frame. It’s over $100 per shot and may not be covered by insurance. Something to research before your appointment.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>For girls at least, there seems to be some flexibility in the timing of the last two shots according to what we were told by our doctor anyway. We were advised the period in between had to be at least this long, but could be longer. It is something to think about and good to plan for breaks. Great advice on the TB test. Student Health was completely slammed at beginning of move in. Housing takes this seriously, so don’t delay the TB test unless you don’t mind waiting for hours at Student Health.</p>
<p>Do you need a physical or just need the vaccination form filled out? D had a physical 5 months ago, but I never thought to bring the vaccination form.</p>
<p>I cannot put my hands on the copy of D’s form from last year. We had it completed during her physical, but it is mainly immunizations. There MAY have been a statement for the doctor to sign that she was in good physical health, but I honestly cannot remember. There wasn’t much to it…one page plus a doctor’s signature.</p>
<p>It might be a good time to be sure your student has received the Hep A immunization also. I received a news alert yesterday of possible exposure to customers by an infected fast food worker in Northport. Good to have regardless of whether they travel abroad.</p>
<p>I didn’t see where anything was required other than the immunization form, which had the health care professional signing just to certify that the vaccinations and dates on the form were correct. My D has had a physical within the year and is current on all the vaccinations, so I could have just faxed the form in and had it filled out, but for the fact that the TB test is recommended and done here only if you’re in a high risk group. So D needs to go in to get the TB test (and then to have it read).</p>
<p>If your school nurse is an RN, the MD office MAY allow them to read the TB for you. Will depend on your MD office as well as the RN at your school. It is a skill that all RN’s have.</p>
<p>IIRC, a chest x-ray is taken when the TB test comes back positive or the person has had a tuberculosis vaccine. </p>
<p>There was a thread on CC a couple months ago about males getting the Gardasil vaccine. I haven’t called my insurance company to see if it was covered for my age group. It was specifically mentioned as being covered for those under 18 however. For some reason, the meningitis shot was only covered up until a person turns 18, but it is highly recommended/required regardless.</p>
<p>As for getting someone to read the TB test, when I had my done (only health care professionals are tested in my area), the doctor’s office simply found someone with the relevant license to read the test and sign the paperwork. Vaccinations are a relatively simple task, especially if one has had them all done at the same health care facility as the records are easier to obtain.</p>
<p>I also called the UA Student Health Center. They offer the shots there. They did not have an updated price list, but the last list they had the shots were either $166 or $186 each.</p>
<p>In our case, our very good insurance does not cover it for males, regardless of age.</p>