Can you special order a vax from the US?

[WCM]

I'm debating the Tet vax for my eldest, later this summer maybe. But only because I had read on here (or IN Mothering?) that a new Tetanus only, mercury-free vax was available in the US? I'm in Canada, and our gov't has stopped funding a tet only vax, so now you must get the tet and Dipth vax together. Not okay for me.

Is it possible/legal to order this new vax from the US and have it sent North? Within the US, how would you get it? I can come down to visit family, but how much is the vax for a non-resident, and who could I get it through?

Thanks.

[MissRubyandKen]

Don't have answers, but I just saw this myself. Some additional questions I have if anyone does have info though if OP doesn't mind-

Is this vaccine new new? As in has it been used elsewhere and is just now available here or is it freshly licensed straight out of trials new?

Is this vaccine the same vaccine with trace amounts of thimerosal being labeled as mercury free or is it truly free of all thimerosal? What replaces the mercury in the manufacturing process and what do we know about its safety, has it been used in other vaccines? Or is it that a better filtering process has been found if it is completely mercury free?

To the OP- the Td is supposed to contain trace amounts of mercury only, not a large amount used as a preservative like in some vaccines, ie the flu vaccine, and in amounts like it was used in other vaccines previously.

[WCM]

Add on to the topic as you wish PP.

How does it work in the US for vax's? I mean, if you want to request one, must you do it through certain physicians/clinics, is it still covered by your healthplan?

I'd like to know more about this new vax too. It's bugging me that it was mentoned in mothering yet I can't find any info about it online.

Thanks for the tip on mercury content in the TD PP. I can look into it as a possible option for us.

[FernG]

You can look at the manufacturer web sites online. After they confirm that you are a legit medical practitioner, they give you an account number. You can use that account to order vaxes.

Some of the vaccines must be ordered in multidose vials instead of individual doses. Even if you can order individual doses, the manufacturer may force you to order a specific amount. If a doctor special orders a vaccine that he normal doesn't carry in his office (say the doctor usually uses brand X but you want brand Y), then your (U.S.) insurance will probably cover your child's dose and the doctor's office's injection fee, but someone else (the doctor or the parent) is going to have to cover the cost of all those extra doses that came from the manufacturer.