Are shots at the health department the same as at the doctor's office?

Question

My son is 14 months and didn't have his 12 months shots because of a problem with medicaid. He is now off of medicaid because my husband's pay went up so we are just waiting to add him to the insurance in Nov. Well I know good and well he can not wait until Nov. to get his 12 month shots.

My problem is, are the shots at the health department the same as at the doctor's office? From what my pedi's office told me when he had his first set is that they are different. Even medicaid patients get different shots (same type but different brand) compared to the ones with private insurance at the doctor's office.

If I have them done at the pedi's office then I will be billed around $800 for the visit so paying a payment of $50 a month on top of my copay when he needs to go in wouldn't be possible with our budget. I'm lost as to what to do. I want my son to get the best shots possible and with the thought of autism caused by shots, that worries me. I also want him to have a check up.

Answer 1

The shots are the same, in all the ways that count. Different companies make slightly different formlations and I don't know what the Medicaid versions happen to be--you usually get the MMR shot all together, for example (measles-mumps-rubella), but there is also a Quad shot that includes the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine as well. Some people use that, some give it separately. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with cost.

Obviously, your son should get his catch-up vaccinations as soon as possible, but speaking cautiously and advisedly, if he was up-to-date for everything before the one-year vaccinations, it is not *that* big of a deal. He should, of course, have a check-up. (I am assuming here that he was seen at 9 months.) Not that I am not encouraging you to have him seen! Just to know, there is no issue with giving the vaccinations at 14 or 16 months.

There is no link between vaccination and autism. I will now have a rash of anti-vaxxers coming by to give me negative ratings (it happens every time), but honestly, the other poster is correct. There isn't.

Answer 2

Go to the health department. Who really cares if the shots don't come from the same manufacturer? Lord, next they'll tell you they should be from the same lot number!
And the whole shots-causing-autism thing is pure BS. People with an unfortunate situation often look for somebody to blame, and that's one that's popular but not supported by the evidence. If your health department offers EPSTD screening, that's fine for the exam, as well.

Answer 3

I would think that regardless of the "brand," all vaccinations are the same. Just as there are generic brands of all medications, there may very well be generic vaccinations. However, they will work as well and provide the same benefit as a "brand name."

Not to put a bad light on your pediatrician's office, but of course they're going to tell you theirs are better --- they want the money you will pay THEM for the shots....they don't want to turn business away or possibly lose that income.

I would certainly go to the health department if they offered the vaccinations your child needs and I'd go with no worries whatsoever.

Answer 4

First, the association between autism and immunizations has been largely discreditied and uncomfirmed, in spite of rigorous investigation.

As long as you have meticulous records from your pediatrician, there should be little problem. As I see it, the major difficulty comes with combined immunizations that might be available at one facility, but not at the other. Any doctor or pediatric nurse can figure this out for you and see that your child gets the correct immunizations.

Answer 5

yes the shots at the health department are the same as the ones in the doctor's usually done though for those that could not afford to do it any other way as in have no insurance low income ect

Answer 6

yes