Vaccinations

K

KiwiBird

USAFA Cadet, Co 2025
Joined
Oct 8, 2020
Messages
287
I was looking through the appointee handbook and saw that there was a list of required vaccinations. I am a bit worried as I do not have all of them. Should I start working on that now, or is it better to wait for a BFE? Also, even though it says to the contrary in the handbook, can you receive any upon your arrival to USAFA?
 
KiwiBird said:
I was looking through the appointee handbook and saw that there was a list of required vaccinations. I am a bit worried as I do not have all of them. Should I start working on that now, or is it better to wait for a BFE? Also, even though it says to the contrary in the handbook, can you receive any upon your arrival to USAFA?
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My son got the list and made an appointment with his doctor. The doctor figured out the timing of them etc - and set appointments.

Note: bring proof of your vaccinations like they tell you to. I know some kid who forgot his and had to get them again on I day.
 
KiwiBird said:
I was looking through the appointee handbook and saw that there was a list of required vaccinations. I am a bit worried as I do not have all of them. Should I start working on that now, or is it better to wait for a BFE? Also, even though it says to the contrary in the handbook, can you receive any upon your arrival to USAFA?
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I don't have the "correct" answer for you, but the mom in me says get the ones done that you are missing regardless. Sometimes you can react to the vaccine and you wouldn't want that to hinder your performance while you are at USAFA. Get as much checked off your left before you go. The other day (before the TWE) I had a doctor's appt and asked for a copy of my son's vax records for exactly this purpose. (But he is 18 now so they wouldn't release them to his mama!)
 
@KiwiBird ,

Wait until the candidate forms populate in your portal. Then print the shot instructions, the shot record form, and the pre-filled prescriptions (I think for 2 things, one for the polio shot, one for something else but I can't remember), and set an appointment with your pediatrician ASAP - because they may have to order some as well as any of the others you may need. You could show up at USAFA and get shots, but I don't recommend it at all. I suggest getting a copy of your shot record NOW, and then you can be informed and knowledgeable about what shots you have and those you might need. Some candidates have trouble getting the shots and have to travel around, but my DD was lucky and her pediatrician spoke "service academy medical" and were familiar with the shots she needed and worked her in right before Covid shut down everything.
 
KiwiBird said:
I was looking through the appointee handbook and saw that there was a list of required vaccinations. I am a bit worried as I do not have all of them. Should I start working on that now, or is it better to wait for a BFE? Also, even though it says to the contrary in the handbook, can you receive any upon your arrival to USAFA?
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Excellent advice to start on them now, especially if spacing is involved. Otherwise, you’ll get them there. There is nothing like doing push-ups with a tetanus-sore arm.
 
I would get working on them now, if you know exactly what ones you need. The information has now be uploaded to DS's portal, so we could tell exactly what he needed. He had to get four in one day, and then he needs another round, I think for MenB. Anyway, he said his arm was sore after the four, so glad he wouldn't have that at in-processing. He knows he will be sore for many different reasons there. Also, there are MANY things on the appointee checklist. Knock out what ever you can.
 
Just wondering about insurance coverage for these appointments/tests/vaccinations. DS pediatrician office told us we will need to pay for a visit because the insurance won't cover it. Has it been everyone's experience or maybe I am missing something?
 
Our experience is that if you are due for a yearly exam, then it's not an issue and the shots will be covered by insurance. We lucked out and the timing worked out for a yearly exam (thank you covid) and will get shots then too. Perhaps using the prescription in the portal would help to just get shots without a visit. I know at our office, an appointment can be made to just get shots, if you are up to date with the well child visits. Also, I have always found it helpful to call the insurance directly first and ask what would be covered, expected cost for me and/or the process to follow to get it covered.
 
Stealth_81 said:
If your insurance won’t cover them and you don’t want to pay out of pocket then they can wait and get them on I-Day at Air Force expense.

Stealth_81
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Parents getting their kids the service required immunizations ahead of reporting to a Service Academy is a relatively new thing. I don't think that even one of my classmates had them done in advance. Getting the "shots" upon reporting was a common touchstone with generations of servicemembers that had gone before us and it was just an expected thing.
 
It may be different from state to state but here every child that is attending school is supposed to have them up to date anyway, so get them while DS/DD is still in school. If your health dept does not cover them, find out the cost from your Dr.'s office and if your insurance will cover. If it is not a covered but not too crazy expensive, I would say get them while still at home. The last thing they need is to feel crappy from any vax reaction or even get a fever on those first few day there.
 
FrauTeufelshund said:
It may be different from state to state but here every child that is attending school is supposed to have them up to date anyway, so get them while DS/DD is still in school. If your health dept does not cover them, find out the cost from your Dr.'s office and if your insurance will cover. If it is not a covered but not too crazy expensive, I would say get them while still at home. The last thing they need is to feel crappy from any vax reaction or even get a fever on those first few day there.
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Maybe it's just the state we are at, but the requested immunizations are more extensive than what is required in our state (polio booster as an example). Also, USAFA requires to see blood titers results even if you have a record for vaccinations (such as for MMR).
 
Arms will be sore the first few weeks anyway. I agree with OldRetSWO, the SA will give whatever is needed.
 
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