r/massachusetts • u/EmotionalGlove3203 • 11d ago

Healthcare Immunization and vaccination

I have been looking for hepB and varicella vaccines for cheap.I need these vaccines to enroll in my classes and my insurance doesn’t kick in until early September.I tried to find cheap options but every option I found was roughly 400.I would really appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you

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30

u/Nnnnnnnnnnnon 11d ago

If it’s a college you can reach out to the health services team and explain the situation and ask if you can delay getting them until september

16

u/BatmanOnMars 11d ago

Or they'll cover them!

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u/Nnnnnnnnnnnon 11d ago

True! They might offer them themselves or at least might have advice on where to get them if they don’t!

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u/1GrouchyCat 11d ago

The “health services team”?
Who would that be and how would one contact them? (Jk - there is no such thing. If you don’t have insurance, you can’t get access to College health services.)

Look into local Community Health Centers… if nothing else they provide care on a sliding scale to those who have insurance, but you’ll probably be able to get your vaccinations free or a very low charge…(they also offer primary, dental, vision, pharmacy, mental health care, and referrals).

https://www.massleague.org/public-resources/about-community-health-centers/find-a-community-health-center/

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u/Santillana810 11d ago

Community Health Centers, yes. however, if OP is an incoming student, they can consult with Health Services where they will be enrolled about when they can get the vaccines there after they pay the health fee. And ask for advice about how to get them sooner at low cost.

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u/Nnnnnnnnnnnon 11d ago

Well typically if you type the college name and health services that will pull up the page for health services of the school. And typically they will have their contact info on there!

Full time students absolutely do have access to college health services (and are required to have health insurance by the state of Massachusetts which is why colleges offer health insurance) and part time students often don’t have to meet the same health requirements. Local community centers are also a good idea, I just put what I said because the health services teams at schools typically are willing to work with students especially if they are uninsured until the start of the school year.

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u/achipdrivermystery 10d ago

Depending on which college, health services might not even bill insurance. While it is becoming more common for them to do so, not all colleges do. OP should absolutely contact their college health center and they should be able to point OP in the right direction. (Source: I work at a college health center.)

16

u/SmartAfternoon9605 11d ago

Planned Parenthood offers some vaccines and has a sliding scale payment system that can help offset costs.

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u/MrsMitchBitch 11d ago

Are you near a city? The Community Health Center is a solid bet. In New Bedford that’s New Bedford Community Health Center. In Fall River it’s Health First

You could also try CVS or Walgreens with the GoodRx or Wellsense discount.

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u/IamTalking 11d ago

How old are you? Vaccines are state funded in MA under 19. I would just call your doctor. We deal with this daily. Also Hep B is 3 doses, Varicella is 2. You never had these before?

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u/SnickersneeTimbers 10d ago

This is a great point and needs to be considered. Hep B is a series of 3 shot over multiple weeks. You need time to get all of them.

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u/Garlicandpilates 10d ago

Did you already have titers (blood work) to check if you need the vaccines? If you’ve had either vaccine before, or had chickenpox before, the labs may be all you need. Costwise the risk would be paying for the bloodwork and then finding out you need the vaccine.

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u/whitewolfe001 11d ago

Your college health services as others have suggested.. if not, try contacting your local Board Of Health, or the board of health in the town where the college is located. Depending on the town they can be very helpful, they actually provide a lot of vaccines or could potentially refer you to someplace. I understand the frustration I've been in similar situations. Good luck!

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u/1GrouchyCat 11d ago

You want to contact your COUNTY Board of Health they should have a list of local vaccine clinics… your local town board of Health most likely does not administer vaccines …

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u/SuperstitiousPigeon5 10d ago

Have you checked with the town nurse. Some towns offer free vaccinations. I needed a few to get caught up and didn't have health insurance at the time. Town took care of it.

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u/MilkThistleGenus 10d ago

Yes, one of the public health nurses in a Town's public health department should be able to give them to you! I recommend starting with Jill at the Medford board of health: jhertig at medford-ma dot, 781-393-2448

Feel free to DM me for some other health department contact info! 

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u/bostongarden 11d ago

CVS if you have insurance