 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Family Forum / Parenting / Children's Health / September 2006Impossible to get Hib & Meningitis Vaccinations?
Does anyone know where an adult can get Hib & Meningitis vaccinations? I've spent almost a month trying to find a doctor or clinic that will give me the vaccinations. Some background: I had my spleen removed as a teenager (about 20 years ago). A few months ago I had a near fatal infection of bacterial meningitis along with sepsis. My infectious disease doctor recommended that I get several vaccinations including a pneumovax, a meningitis vaccine, and a Hib vaccine (these recommendation match the CDC guidlines in their pink book). The worst to track down is the Hib. Doctors that treat adults do not carry the vaccine (and apparently they can only order it by the lot), and pediatricians refuse to give it to me since I'm an adult. I have a written presciption from my infectious disease doctor (for Hib Titer) but can't find a pharmacy that can order it. There been a similar problem with the meningitis vaccine (Menomune). The closest I've gotten is travel medicine clinics that carry it but tell me they will only give it to me if I'm going to a foreign country. An example of the comedy of the situation is the other day I saw a story on CNN that was recommending all college students to get the meningitis vaccine; I thought, "Good luck finding a doctor that can give it to you." I've called the CDC, the county health department, numerous doctors (infections disease, general practitioners, pediatricians), and numerous pharmacies. Though the CDC and county health department think it's absurd that none of the doctors can give me the vaccinations, none of the doctors or clinics they referred me to could give me the vaccines either. If anyone can give me advice on how/where I can get these vaccinations, I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks! Mark P.S. In live in the New Jersey/Philadelphia area. > Does anyone know where an adult can get Hib & Meningitis vaccinations? > I've spent almost a month trying to find a doctor or clinic that will [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > P.S. In live in the New Jersey/Philadelphia area. Have you asked the doctor who told you to get them? He should have an idea. As for pediatricians...they can give you the shot and I would expect that if your infectious disease doctor contacted one and asked for a courtesy on your behalf, you would have no problems. > Does anyone know where an adult can get Hib & Meningitis vaccinations? > I've spent almost a month trying to find a doctor or clinic that will [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > P.S. In live in the New Jersey/Philadelphia area. Seems strange that an internist couldn't get these vaccines, and can't imagine a reason why they wouldn't give it to you, unless you tested positive for antibodies or antigens. I received my series of Hb vaccine (Recombivax) in 1987 (at age 35). It is recommended that anyone in regular contact with human blood or other bodily fluids be immunized (as well as those on renal dialysis, and some chronically institutionalized. There may be other at-risk groups as well--I'm not an expert here). So most healthcare workers in regular contact with patients get the Hb vaccine (I am a dentist). I'm not as familiar with guidelines for vaccines against meningococcal meningitis. Steve >> The worst to track down is the Hib. Doctors that treat adults do not >> carry the vaccine (and apparently they can only order it by the lot), [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >groups as well--I'm not an expert here). So most healthcare workers in >regular contact with patients get the Hb vaccine (I am a dentist). You are talking about hepatitis B vaccine. He is talking about Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine. PF > Does anyone know where an adult can get Hib & Meningitis vaccinations? > I've spent almost a month trying to find a doctor or clinic that will [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Hib vaccine (these recommendation match the CDC guidlines in their pink > book). Ask your infectious disease doctor. He or she should know. In addition, you can try contact the immunization office at your local or county health department. Jeff > The worst to track down is the Hib. Doctors that treat adults do not > carry the vaccine (and apparently they can only order it by the lot), [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > P.S. In live in the New Jersey/Philadelphia area. I appreciate many people's advice to try my infectious disease doctor, but I did - several times. My infectious disease doctor tells me my primary care physician should give it to my, but my PCP tells me my infectious disease doctor should. I've called other infectious disease doctors who again refer me to my PCP. I've called other PCPs who refer me to infectious disease doctors. I've called pediatricians who refer me to my PCP. The CDC and county health department refer me to either infectious disease doctors or my PCP. See where this is going? ;-) Everyone I call refers me to someone else - and I've probably called near 50+ doctors over the past month. One day I became very determined and spent 6 hours calling doctor-after-doctor. With both my infectious disease doctor and PCP, I've called them more than 10 times each, have visited their offices, etc. I'm worried they're going to axe me as a patient ;-) The only thing I can get from them are prescriptions for the actual vaccines which they tell me to fill and bring back to the office, but pharmacies can't fill the prescriptions. The situations is pure insanity. Mark >I appreciate many people's advice to try my infectious disease doctor, > but I did - several times. My infectious disease doctor tells me my [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Mark I'd try calling the Philadelphia Health Department and maybe the folks at the infectious disease department at Penn. http://pennhealth.com/Wagform/MainPage.aspx?config=provider&P=LP&ID=66 These people are in the travel medicine program, too. They give lots of immunizations. You can also try the state health department. You might have to find the makers of the vaccines and call them, too. Maybe they can arrange for someone to give you the shots or tell you who has them. Jeff > I appreciate many people's advice to try my infectious disease doctor, > but I did - several times. My infectious disease doctor tells me my > primary care physician should give it to my, but my PCP tells me my > infectious disease doctor should. Bang their heads together. > The situations is pure insanity. Agreed. > Does anyone know where an adult can get Hib & Meningitis vaccinations? I believe Meningitis vaccinations are required/recommended for travel to some African countries. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/africa/ethiopia.shtml Try calling a PCP and telling him you are going abroad on holiday. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2010 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.