Non-vax'ed Adult Considering Health Care Profession...Thoughts Re: "Required" Vax'ing?

[Alverna]

I'm new here and apologize if this subject has been discussed elsewhere.  I did a quick search and couldn't find much.

I am a 27 year old non-vax'ed (besides Tetanus boosters) woman thinking about switching careers to the health care profession.  I'm meeting with an academic counselor next week to discuss a Physician Assistant graduate program.  My concern is my vax status and what it means for this career choice, should I decide to take the plunge.  (Granted there's no reason this issue needs to be discussed during this preliminary meeting, but I'd like to have a good handle on it before I risk wasting both my time and hers.)

From what I've been able to find, vax's are pretty much required for health care personnel.  It's unfortunate, but I can understand why this is necessary from a liability standpoint.  I may not agree with vax's providing the protection the medical community wants, but I need to decide if the career is worth getting the vax's. With what I know now, my preference would be to have titers done for everything and then get the req'ed vaxs for what I don't have immunity to, spreading them out so I'm only getting 1 at a time with plenty of time in between.  I would also choose vax brands that don't contain human cells/animal cells/Formalin/Thimerosal whenever possible. 

My first concern is whether or not it's a good idea, second is how much $$ it's going to cost me for the titers.  Third, I have asthma (well-controlled) and a heap of environmental allergies (pets, plants, etc) - how will this effect the vax process? 

Thoughts?  Anyone else been in a similar situation?  Any recommendations?  Anyone received vax's as an adult?  Enlighten me!

Req'd vax:

Adult DT (Diphtheria-Tetanus)

Pertussis may be req'ed - not sure on that one

MMR

Chicken Pox (or proof of infection/positive titer)

Hep B (may be able to opt out)

Flu (may be able to opt out)

Not req'ed:

Polio

[miriam]

I think you can still get through the program without vaccinations.  It is the clinicals that may trip you up.  The hospital or institution where you do your clinicals may reject you so that you cannot finish the program.

AFAIK there are Christian Scientists who are nurses and they reject vaccinations as a tenent of their faith.  If vaccines are against your personal faith, I do not know how you can be kept out of the profession unless you are discriminated against because of your personal faith.

Frankly, most obstetricians are not up to date with their rubella vaccinations because of the well known side effects; this has been a known fact for decades.