Immunization reminder

[2blue]

^It would be worth checking to see if there is a discount through the county health department. I just called our health department and they said they are currently charging $140/shot. The price goes up or down depending upon how much they have to pay for the vaccine. I also called my family doctor's office and they are charging $206/shot. The savings total $198 over the course of three shots.

[Westcoastmon]

Our local pharmacies have also starting offering vaccinations. Check in your area. Visiting the county health department we had to pay a $50 fee plus the vaccination shot. Later found the local pharmacy and local drugstore chains are less expensive as you don't pay a fee for the visit.

[2blue]

There's no fee here for a visit with the health department, just the shot fee. My son's vaccines I mentioned in the first post were each $15. We're lucky. Sounds like some phone calls to find out the costs locally is a good first step.

[juba2jive]

Muffy, we've been making all the girls who get Gardasil stay in the exam room and sit down for 15 minutes after the shot because of reactions basically like you've described. I think some, but not all, of it may be psychological - a lot of the girls tell us that they've heard from their friends that "it hurts a lot" so that makes them anxious. I started the series myself this summer and I don't think it hurt too badly, although I have a high pain tolerance. You can sort of feel the medicine going through your muscle, so that's a little weird. Nevertheless, we don't want anyone passing out on their way to the car or driving themselves home right after taking it

corranged, supposedly the efficacy of the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine goes down over time, so they are recommending booster shots. Here's an article with some more info.

[franglish]

When my D had the Gardasil shots last year, she had no reaction at all. She had friends who passed out, threw up, had pain at the site, etc. and she felt only the needle stick, and slight soreness for a day or two afterwards. (Maybe she had a fake shot......?) Also, my insurance covered the cost for all three. Should I have been surprised at that?

[ChellyBelly42]

My insurance covered the guardasil, too. It didn't make me sick, but the meningitis vaccine did. I felt awful- achy, lethargic, and kind of dizzy/spinny, for about 12 hours after I got the shot.

[dragonmom]

And if you are helping make health care decisions for older relatives, maybe it's time for the shingles vaccine:
Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Shingles/Vaccine FAQs

[MamaDiva]

Check your respective medical insurance plans, because some cover the cost of immunizations 100% as a wellness care visit. Also, anyone that has had chicken pox can get shingles. My D had chicken pox at 2 and shingles at 7. Her pediatrician had never seen a case of shingles in someone that age; but it happened!

[Almostlaunched]

Is the menengitis shot given only once? My son received it last year upon entering his freshman year in college. Will he need to get it again this year?

[juba2jive]

Yep, he should only need one dose of meningitis.

[sybbie719]

Also if your child's high school is open over the summer, try to get a copy of your child's immunization record (if you don't have a copy at home or a set at their doctor's office). At NYC public schools, there should be a hard copy of their immunization records in their cumulative records folder. If there is an administrative assistant working, who has ATS access, they can access the imunization information through the ATS system.


The Vaccines for Children program, which provides free vaccines to New Hampshire children ages 18 and under, offers Gardasil to girls between 11 and 18.

Bad News for Older Women Who Want the HPV Vaccine
June 25, 2008 04:43 PM ET | Deborah Kotz | Permanent Link


There was some disheartening news on the HPV vaccine today for women ages 27 to 45 who were hoping to get vaccinated against cervical cancer and have the $360 cost covered by insurance. The Food and Drug Administration told manufacturer Merck that it needs more time to make a decision about expanded use for its Gardasil vaccine, already approved for females ages 12 to 26. The vaccine protects against four HPV types, two of which cause genital warts and two of which are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancers; about 80 percent of women become infected with HPV at some time or other.

Bad News for Older Women Who Want the HPV Vaccine - On Women (usnews.com)

[justhismom]

My S upon entering his freshman year last August, had either already had or received the necessary shots including the one for meningitis. Are any of the common shots yearly? I guess we will hear something again from his health dept at school, but I was curious if I was missing something.
I'd like to get it schedule for early August before he returns back to school.

[HisGraceFillsMe]

I just got back from the doctor...I have a band-aid on each arm and one on my finger (they checked my blood sugar to make sure I don't have diabetes...I don't! w00t).

I got the meningitis (conjugate) and the first Gardasil shot.

The HPV one stung pretty bad, but I haven't reacted yet...they did have me sit for about 15 minutes just to make sure I didn't have a reaction (this was also when they did the diabetes check).

My insurance covered all my shots, I just had to pay my $20 copay.

[OKgirl]

Can girls get the Gardasil shot if they are sexually active?

[dragonmom]

OKgirl While it's recommended that girls get it before they are sexually active (hence the young age range), it will still protect someone from any HPV strains that they don't already have. Depending on your age/history/luck you may not have been exposed to any yet. Talk to a doctor or health clinic worker.