Immunization requirements

[kenzo]

Hello, I'm from Canada and I'll be starting from May 08'. I'm bit confused about the immunization requirements (Hep B)

a) do I need to get all three doses of Hep B vaccine before arriving on the island? or can I get the first two doses now and get the third one later? (It says on the form that "first and second doses must be administered before traveling to the island"-this statement gives me an impression that as long as i get the first two, i can get the third one later, say, when i start clinicals)

b) should the titer for Hep B be drawn before traveling to the island? I think I can get all the three doses by April 10th if i need to but I doubt that I will have enough time to have the titer drawn after 4 weeks of the third dose since I'm starting from May 08'.

Thanks in advance!!

[aspiringmedstudent]

From what you've described, if I were in your situation, I would get all 3 vaccines before traveling to the island. Then, just have your titers drawn on your first back. That way, you will have plenty of time to re-vaccinate if you need to. Someone in our class (5th semester), just recently found out they do not have Abs to the vaccine. You don't want to have to worry about this while when you're trying to get everything you need done by the time clinials come around.

Just a word of advice - when you get your titers drawn, also ask for your MMR titers as well. I didn't realize that documentation for those vaccines would not be enough to show immunization. Now, I have to get these titers drawn as soon as I get home so I can have the results by the time I start clinicals.

Good luck!