Vaccines, etc

mom3boys · 05-10-2008, 02:55 PM

Just a word of caution to the procrastinators out there: You might need a physical appointment to take care of all the WP required vaccines. Our dr. worked DS in for a nurse visit. It's not just a matter of getting the shots...most docs don't do labs anymore, so then you have to go to the lab and get the blood typing and varicella titer (if your child had the disease). You also have to do a ppd and go back for the reading. As it is, DS still will have to get part 2 of Hep A at WP. You don't want to subject your kiddo to all of this on R day, so make sure you read all the forms and see what all is required.

KateMac · 05-10-2008, 03:38 PM

You also need to make sure to take care of getting the live polio vaccine if it is still required. My daughter's physician didn't have the live vaccine, but our country health department did. It was a quick and simple (and cheap) thing to take care of. The live vaccine is different than the normal childhood vaccinations and was required for last year's reporting cadet candidates.

ProudMomma · 05-12-2008, 06:59 AM

To clarify on the Hep A, it is a 2 part immunization. The second shot can not be given before 6 months has passed (Our health dept checked with the CDC to see if it could be given early and I emailed the CDC myself and got the same response). My son is eligible to have his second shot right in the middle of Beast. The second shot can be given anytime between 6 and 12 months after the first shot. I am hoping they will not give him the second until after he has completed Beast since they will really have up until next February to give it). If you haven't even had your first one yet, you should be fine to get through Beast without this shot being given. However, that would not be true for the other required immunizations.

mom3boys · 05-12-2008, 07:05 AM

Per the suggestions from USMA, I will keep DS on my health insurance; anything he doesn't get "around to" can be taken care of during Christmas break. Knowing busy college students, I can imagine not finding time for part 2 of the shot, dental cleanings, and eye exams. Even though eye exam isn't due until fall, will probably do in June so I can take care of ordering contacts for him...I know they expect these kids to be independent, but there is so little we can do for them while they are there. Ordering contacts seems like a small thing, but will be "one less thing" for him to deal with.

wpmom2011 · 05-12-2008, 07:12 PM

From what my cadet told me last Fall, once they are at WP all medical issues go through the Army. This is so that all medical issues are recorded in their files.

Ann or another more experienced parent, can you confirm this?

shogun · 05-12-2008, 09:40 PM

We took our D off medical and dental insurance when she started the academic year as a Plebe (we waited till after she made it though Beast just to be on the safe side). We do keep sending her contact lenses when she needs them (Mom's decision, not mine

)--the Army takes good care of them, and its a good time for them to start learning to look after their own health. In 4 years they will be responsible for the health of their soldiers.

Anonagron · 05-13-2008, 07:49 PM

Our ds could not get the live oral polio vaccine here as it is no longer given the way it was when they were small, and he will not turn 18 until August. He will also need the second Hep A while at Beast. The nurse listed on the WP medical form said these will not be a problem to take care of there. In fact, she said there will be many new cadets who will be scheduled for these vaccines in July or later, so ds will be in good company.

mom3boys · 05-14-2008, 05:45 AM

Shogun, our insurance is either individual or family, so there's no reason to take DS off-no saving, etc, so we'll leave him on for added benefit. The car insurance, however, is another matter...he's off July 1...that will save a chunk of change!

JustAMomOf4 · 05-14-2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Our ds could not get the live oral polio vaccine here as it is no longer given the way it was when they were small, and he will not turn 18 until August.

was told by our hospitals travel immunization office that the live polio is no longer given in this country. our kids got the live when they were small but now they give inactivated polio. It is a shot - not the liquid they got as babies (that was live).
The immunization form just says adult polio after age of 18 - I didn't see where it said it had to be live.

mom3boys · 05-14-2008, 09:45 AM

DS got a shot...not like the oral polio of years past.

KateMac · 05-14-2008, 05:16 PM

Ours, last year, did say live. Again, the only place we could get it was the county health department, the doctor's office did not have it. It was a shot, not an oral dose. Perhaps it is different this year, but I do know that the requirement last year did state "live." It said that is the strain prevalent in underdeveloped countries. Made me stop and take another think about what she was actually getting herself into!