forced vaxes for clinicals...'safer' ones available?

[JaneSmith1010]

I may have to get vaxes for clinicals (nursing school). are there safer ones I can special order for my doctor to administer that may not have so many fillers and adjuvants in them?

[alegna]

Not really.

You could file a religious objection.

-Angela

[Ackray]

Which ones are they asking you to get? If you are going to be in a setting where you are at a higher risk of getting exposed to these diseases and body fluids, wouldn't you want to protect yourself? As a nurse, I know that no matter how careful you are, exposure to flying body fluids and accidental needle sticks happen. I live in a bubble, are there studies about adults, vaccinations and long term consequences?

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Ackray

Which ones are they asking you to get? If you are going to be in a setting where you are at a higher risk of getting exposed to these diseases and body fluids, wouldn't you want to protect yourself? As a nurse, I know that no matter how careful you are, exposure to flying body fluids and accidental needle sticks happen. I live in a bubble, are there studies about adults, vaccinations and long term consequences?

Yes there are stories about adults. Particularly about the flu shot and the Hep B series. I have also seen a few about bad reactions to the tetnus booster. The New England Journal of Medicine published in 1984 that tetanus booster injections result in the same derangement of T4 and T8 cells as seen in AIDS patients (1984 Jan 19;310(3):198-9).

I would try for an exemption.

[JaneSmith1010]

eek. they mandate a tetanus booster for me, a hep b series and varicella. i believe that the hep b series has a declination form....probably from bad reactions people have had in the past. the varicella is no problem since i think they allow a signed form saying you've already had chicken pox. so the tetanus is the one i think i may have to get.

Ackray, protecting yourself...that depends on how effective you think the vaccinations themselves are.. I personally am not impressed. I had a friend with the same reaction to my questions that you just gave me- then she got her TB vax to go work in Africa as a nurse. All of the 13 volunteers got TB...none were unvaxed. Needless to say she does not question me anymore. I would rather give my healthy body a shot at fighting off infection than harming my immune system with a barrage of chemicals and then exposing myself to potentially serious illnesses. That is my personal preference though.

The problem with claiming a religious exemption may be that Parkland is its own boss and they can refuse to have students participate in clinicals if they do not conform. I will ask the school about this in case they are not happy with my vax records and decisions, but we'll see.

I have Celiac Disease, which is an autoimmune disorder, so I would really like to avoid messing with my immune system anymore. My doc also has CD and does not vax...I wonder if he could write me some sort of waiver.

[alegna]

I can't imagine they'd give you too much of a hassle about tetanus since it's not communicable.

-Angela

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by alegna

I can't imagine they'd give you too much of a hassle about tetanus since it's not communicable.

-Angela

I agree...since you can't catch tetnus...it's a personal risk only. I would say you have an autoimmune DO and decline...if they give you a hassle then get a note from your Doc (if he will give you one). As for religious exemptions if you were denied from participating based on not vaxing and you had a religious exemption, they open themselves up for a civil lawsuit based on religious dicrimination. Also find out if they get any state funding. If they do like schools, maybe they have to accept a RE.

[nycmom18]

why would you need a tetanus booster? lets say something did happen in the hospital? you could just get the TIG, right?