Adult Immunization in Western Pennsylvania: Where to Go

Adult Immunization in Western Pennsylvania: Where to Go - While starting nursing school I ran into the problem that my immunizations had been destroyed and the titers I had done showed that I had no immunity to the MMR or the Chicken Pox. The only problem I was coming to find out is that no one could help me get these vaccines because I was over the age of 18 or they wanted an arm and a leg for them. So hopefully my ordeal will help people who are looking to have immunizations done as an adult in Western Pennsylvania. First you want to have your doctor do titer's to find out what vaccines you will actually need to have done. If the titers show you have immunity to these diseases you will not need to have the vaccines done, but if they show no immunity you will need the vaccines.

First you will want to contact your local health department and see which adult vaccines they can do for you. Most of the time the health department can do most of the vaccines you will need but the chicken pox vaccine. The chicken pox vaccine is a live vaccine that is refrigerated and not usually kept in stock at most places.

You can contact your child's or any pediatrician a lot of pediatricians will do your shots at the discount rate as if you where a cash customer. In my town only 2 were willing to even talk about doing them while about 10 others turned me down flatly.

For the Hepatitis B vaccine you can contact any STD clinic you may have in your town they usually will do this shot based on your income on a sliding scale. You will find a lot of times you may even be able to get this vaccine free through the family planning or STF clinics.

Many times the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) will hold clinics providing the vaccines for a very cheap rate of 10.00. If you have a VNA in your area make this your first call to find out if they will do vaccines in your town.