Immunizations during the pandemic

[brewmeister]

Not sure if this is a DoDMERB question per se but it's medical and cross academy...

DS has an appointment to USAFA and recently received the appointee booklet and online instructions on portal. As he went through the immunization requirements there are several that he needs boosters for due to greater military requirements (Polio, flu, Tdap, and ACWY).

Problem is, vaccinations have been suspended . He was able to get a "maybe" appointment with his provider for May 28 but they can't do Polio. Polio is only done by the county and they are suspended indefinitely.

He contacted his admissions counselor, who directed him to email the immunization contact in the appointee handbook, so he is doing that.

I thought I would post here to see if anyone had any additional guidance... if he is unable to get immunizations he won't be released to travel for intake as I understand it, or are they being flexible, will they administer vaccines there, etc. Thanks.

 

[f4fwildcatfm2]

Advice I got from my ALO regarding situations like this: "I'm sure there are many other students in the same position, so I would hold tight and wait for further guidance for now. This pandemic is unprecedented, so USAFA will likely be more flexible with deadlines and requirements."

 

[Humey]

I realize its different, but when my son went AD after graduating Rotc , he was given all the necessary shots on base. If anything, he brought his immunization card from home so that the wouldnt need to have all the shots replicated. For those who couldnt prove with they had, they got the full series of vaccinations. I am surprised, the academies dont do the same

 

[MullenLE]

FACTS:

1. If anything, he brought his immunization card from home so that the wouldn't need to have all the shots replicated.

2. I am surprised, the academies don't do the same ****The Academies DO the same****

3. Under the COVID19 scenario, """"if"""there are changes, those changes would be announced by the respective Academy Admissions offices.

 

[brewmeister]

FACTS:

1. If anything, he brought his immunization card from home so that the wouldn't need to have all the shots replicated.

2. I am surprised, the academies don't do the same ****The Academies DO the same****

3. Under the COVID19 scenario, """"if"""there are changes, those changes would be announced by the respective Academy Admissions offices.

It wasn't until his status changed to appointee and the candidate booklet became available that he realized that although he is fully vaccinated (per the state), he is not "current" per military standards. I.e., need for adult polio, etc. And now those vaccinations are not possible.

Hopefully they will become available in time for the June 1 applicant deadline, or other changes will be made in light of current conditions.

 

[MullenLE]

Best for him...the applicant....NOT Mom or Dad...to contact Admissions directly and ask

 

[brewmeister]

Best for him...the applicant....NOT Mom or Dad...to contact Admissions directly and ask

As I noted in my original post, that's what he did. (I have no idea who his admission contacts even are.)

I only offered to post a query here in case there was additional information beyond what admissions told him.

 

[MullenLE]

Have him send me an mr and email to
DoDMERB_SAForums@yahoo.com

 

[brewmeister]

I've passed the info on to him; thanks much!

 

[MullenLE]

 

[brewmeister]

The person you referred him to, referred him to email the immunization contact from the appointee handbook. He hasn't heard back from them and no doubt they are busy with other things.

Hopefully some changes will be made as there will likely be no way these immunizations can be done in time, due to no fault of the appointees. I'm sure there are many others in the same boat so we'll just wait and see. Thanks!

 

[MullenLE]

Correct. There is no playbook for the situation the country is in right now

 

[NavyHoops]

There are appointees who show up every year to SAs without immunizations because for many reasons. A last minute appointee certainly wouldn’t have them done. It’s not the end of the world. Everyone will be in this boat. I am sure USAFA and every SA will issue guidance on this in the coming weeks.

 

[Baseballdadtexas]

My DS got on the phone and located two separate locations to complete his immunizations after being turned down by his physician. CVS pharmacy inside of a Target store was able to provide 4 out of the 5 he needed, with polio being the exception. He found a RediClinic inside a local grocery store that had the polio vaccine available. CVS last week and RediClinic on Saturday.

 

[kinnem]

My DS got on the phone and located two separate locations to complete his immunizations after being turned down by his physician. CVS pharmacy inside of a Target store was able to provide 4 out of the 5 he needed, with polio being the exception. He found a RediClinic inside a local grocery store that had the polio vaccine available. CVS last week and RediClinic on Saturday.

No wonder he has an appointment. Good for him.

 

[alliern]

My son called his former pediatrician whom he hadn't seen since 2015 and they told him to come on in. They are open for well visits only (newborns still need vaccines even during a pandemic). He had all of his immunizations including polio this past Friday. Maybe try that option?

 

[MullenLE]

Whatever works

 

[MSNavy]

Our health department is doing immunizations for college students.

 

[brewmeister]

My son called his former pediatrician whom he hadn't seen since 2015 and they told him to come on in. They are open for well visits only (newborns still need vaccines even during a pandemic). He had all of his immunizations including polio this past Friday. Maybe try that option?

This particular reply got me thinking... DS had a doctor he had seen in childhood before an insurance switch a few years back. Smaller clinic versus the "big" provider we're with now. So... we called them and asked. They said they were typically only doing vaccinations for infants but asked about the situation. Explained it to them and they said if we had paperwork they would be able to do them.

So... DS logged onto his portal and printed off a few forms, prescriptions, and instructions, and got a bunch of needle pokes this afternoon.

Thanks to Alliern, Mr. Mullen, and y'all here, this turned out to be a success story, so thank you!!! One problem solved, and now he awaits word on one more...

 

[MullenLE]