Tetanus & Nursing school

[my3peanuts]

I'm enrolled in a nursing program at a local college and I have to provide proof of immunity to MMR and Chicken Pox. For tetanus there's no option to provide proof of immunity, just the date of my last booster. I have two questions... By law, am I required to have this vaccine? (I am in MN at a local technical college).

My other question is, does anyone know anything about Adacel? It's a combo diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis. I was told I have to option of either Adacel or the regular tetanus. The regular tetanus has diphtheria with it and apparently it's impossible to get JUST tetanus. The combo vaccine does not have thimerosal but the Td does. I will not willingly getting either but if it's a requirement for my program I want to know the difference in the two, other than the one obviously also containing pertussis.

ETA: It does not sound like it's the college that has the requirement its that the facility sites we do clinicals at can refuse to allow you to do your clinicals there. Again, is there a law mandating vaccinations at these facilities? Can I not sign an exemption?

[miriam]

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Edited by miriam - 5/28/12 at 9:07pm

[shiningpearl]

If they aren't asking for proof, I would just make up a date in the last few years that you had a tetanus (if you've had a physical I would use that date, and if they check it, you could just say that you thought you did), I don't think it is anything more unethical then them asking you to get it.  I mean what on earth are the risks of tetanus in a hospital?  You also may want to look into the flu shot, I have heard of many nursing students & nurses being forced to get that too. 

[my3peanuts]

I have to provide documentation so I can't make up a date.

Hep B is not required. It states on the sheet that I can choose to opt out although they encourage me to talk to my doctor about the risks. Which of course I did! ;)