sTUPID qUESTIONS aBOUT ocs

[eas7888]

Ok Ok I got one...

Is there a time within the first week where you're given the required shots? I would guess theres a medical portion of indoc week. You always hear about all of the innoculations recieved before training etc. I had thought this might occur at MEPS, but I was wrong. As OCs I guess there are some we're expected to already have because of college requirements, however things like small pox and anthrax vaccines aren't often received in the civilian world. I only ask because someone brought up small pox at work yesterday and it got me thinking. "Stupid" enough?

I didn't receive my small pox vaccination until I deployed to Iraq...I don't know how the Navy works in that regard. That's a hell of a vaccine.

 

[SpaceApe29]

Still got my scar from that one but it didn't hurt only itched a little (DON'T scratch it!). The anthrax shots aren't bad at all and my kids came out just fine. Overall it's like this - they want you to be healthy enough to go to blighted places in the world and live. The shots are safe don't sweat it.

 

[SC-NY-88]

^^ Thanks

 

[leigh321]

...This is an even "stupider" question... I've never had a shot (my parents would just sign a form saying I didn't for "religious" reasons). I'm in bdcp now. I have no clue how I'll have to deal with that.

 

[Lucy]

leigh-If you end having to get them (as I would guess you will) be prepared to feel like crap for a few days, sore arms, and to watch for any severe negative side effects once you start getting them. I've had all of mine needed/suggested, except for the hep A shots(the one for bad water/ports) because the primary shot (comes in a set of 3) made me really sick. But be glad you are getting them now, the tetanus I had when I was 10 hurt like HELL, but the one I had in Jan. was not bad at all, so at least if you have to get a ton they have improved from even 10-15 years ago.

Standard are:
Tetanus
Meningococcal
HPV(Recom)
Hep B (set of 3)
Polio
MMR-Measles-mumps-rubelle
Chickenpox( if you didn’t have them)
Hep A (set of 3)

Plus whatever the Navy comes up with.

Good luck

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

leigh-If you end having to get them (as I would guess you will) be prepared to feel like crap for a few days, sore arms, and to watch for any severe negative side effects once you start getting them. I've had all of mine needed/suggested, except for the hep A shots(the one for bad water/ports) because the primary shot (comes in a set of 3) made me really sick. But be glad you are getting them now, the tetanus I had when I was 10 hurt like HELL, but the one I had in Jan. was not bad at all, so at least if you have to get a ton they have improved from even 10-15 years ago.

Standard are:
Tetanus
Meningococcal
HPV(Recom)
Hep B (set of 3)
Polio
MMR-Measles-mumps-rubelle
Chickenpox( if you didn’t have them)
Hep A (set of 3)

Plus whatever the Navy comes up with.

Good luck

You can add Yellow Fever, PPD, and Typhoid to that list. Along with an annual Flu Shot.

 

[SC-NY-88]

Does the Navy require the Flu shot? I was never a fan of it, got it once and had a cold for like 3 months straight.... Do they still innoculate for polio? I thought they "cured" that like 30 years ago.

 

[SynixMan]

Short answer: Yes

 

[fattestfoot]

Do they look at your shot records if you're prior service? I've basically finished everything expert anthrax (I think I was on shot 5 of 6).

I have a feeling they probably don't, based on the whole rush everyone through thing. But if I didn't have to get em all again, that'd be great!

Just a side note, I didn't get stuff like yellow fever, typhoid, rabies, and heb a/b until I got to my unit in the Army.

 

[Boomhower]

Still got my scar from that one but it didn't hurt only itched a little (DON'T scratch it!).

I beg to differ. I have never been as sick in my life as I was from the small pox vaccine. My whole body felt like it was shutting down. That said; I doubt they would give them at OCS. They'll wait until you are deploying/deployed.

...This is an even "stupider" question... I've never had a shot (my parents would just sign a form saying I didn't for "religious" reasons). I'm in bdcp now. I have no clue how I'll have to deal with that.

You're going to feel like a pin cushion if the Navy is trying to catch up on 20+ years worth of immunizations.

 

[StompinNightmare]

Does the Navy require the Flu shot? I was never a fan of it, got it once and had a cold for like 3 months straight.... Do they still innoculate for polio? I thought they "cured" that like 30 years ago.

Common misconception. It was only "cured" in 1st world countries (America, Europe, Japan, etc). It still is quite rampant in many parts of Africa and Asia where they can't easily vaccinate everyone for it. Thus, all it would take is someone infected with polio to hop on a plane and come to America, and then we'd have polio in the good ole USA again *if* we stopped giving people the vaccine for it.

Vaccines are harmless and have plenty of scientific support and credibility. Not getting them is bordering on negligence (or supreme apathy).

 

[leigh321]

You're going to feel like a pin cushion if the Navy is trying to catch up on 20+ years worth of immunizations.

...I know. I've got to figure out a way to get out of [some] of them. Your body's not meant to handle 20 years of shots in a week. Did you have to provide medical records of ALL of them or was verbal confirmation enough for some of them?

 

[SynixMan]

...I know. I've got to figure out a way to get out of [some] of them. Your body's not meant to handle 20 years of shots in a week. Did you have to provide medical records of ALL of them or was verbal confirmation enough for some of them?

You'll be fine. I doubt they'll give them to you all at once. The docs do care about you there, believe it or not.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Actually if you get sick and go to sick call before shots are scheduled and are on antibiotics they won't give you shots. That's what happened to me. I didn't get my shots til the day that I commissioned .

 

[SpaceApe29]

I beg to differ. I have never been as sick in my life as I was from the small pox vaccine. My whole body felt like it was shutting down. That said; I doubt they would give them at OCS. They'll wait until you are deploying/deployed.

...You're going to feel like a pin cushion if the Navy is trying to catch up on 20+ years worth of immunizations.

The flu shot is the one that kicks me in the rear - it's always before I go to the field for some wonderful late-fall training on the art of finding ingenious ways to stay warm while trying to shoot pop-up targets.

You'll also get country specific shots and / or pills but don't sweat it. Now it was the malaria pills made me jittery and very forgetful. That wasn't so bad as I was missing that effect from beer anyway.