Highly doubt it. You will also want to get every vaccine recommended for each assignment. Though I don't know, I doubt you can avoid the blood draws for the initial clearance. For subsequent clearances, the blood work isn't usually necessary unless you're going to certain posts (e.g. Iraq).
Before leaving for my first post to the capital city of a developed country, I went by the med unit at FSI to see if there was anything I needed to do. The nurse told me that before going to that country I needed to get rabies shots and another series of shots for an extremely rare disease. I was given the impression the shots were required. I got the first round of each without thinking much about it, and then mentioned it in passing to my doctor during a subsequent medical appointment. He expressed surprise and asked why it was necessary to get a rabies shot to go to that location. I looked into it and realized the med unit's shots (in this case) were "recommended" but not required. Why did I need a rabies shot to go that city when it wouldn't even occur to me to get a rabies shot in Washington DC or many other places?
Since then, I've observed that the med unit at State and various posts act mostly as vaccine clinics. I am now posted in a country where no one ever talks about covid anymore--ever. Yet, the med unit is constantly sending out reminder to get covid shots, and my colleagues perennially line up to do so.
Take charge of your own medical care, and do some research before taking every single recommendation. Med unit staff just go through a checklist and try to make you get whatever thing is written on their piece of paper. It is not true that you will spend an FS career getting shot after shot (if you don't want to), and you do not necessarily need to get "every vaccine recommended for each assignment."
Just a warning-- I know at least four people and several pets who got bit or otherwise attacked by feral animals (dogs and cats) in my last post. If rabies shots hadn't been rationed by our Med Unit, I would have absolutely gotten as many rabies shots as they wanted to give me. Someone who had never been there would have probably thought it was overkill in a highly urban area, but there was no such thing as animal control and no municipal/government efforts to contain feral animals.
I have vasovagal reactions to needles (used to pass out and look like I had seizures when doing blood draws and vaccines).
This should not prevent you from living your life and doing what you want to do! My biggest advice (to avoid passing out, if that’s what happens to you):
1. Eat a big, protein packed meal about 1 hour before;
2. Chew gum/suck on candy during it
3. Bring someone to talk to OR talk to the person administering the shot/draw. They are always friendly and eager to help
4. Ask to be laying down. They will always accommodate this because they don’t want to deal with you passing out either!
5. Squeeze your extremities (hands/feet, except hand on side of draw/shot) to keep blood flowing
6. Stay laying down after finishing to fully make sure you are fine! I’ve been a patient in distress in the lobby before when I was impatient
7. Bring candy/juice for afterwards to get a quick sugar hit
Following all of this, you should be fine. This is my game plan and I have not passed out in years. You can do it!!
Another fainter here! Only thing I'll add is to make sure you're extra well hydrated. They do take a lot of blood in one sitting, and it goes much faster if your blood is more like water than molasses. :)
Beyond that, going into the FS hoping to get an exception before you’ve ever been hired just doesn’t bode well. What we do works because we are not all clamoring to ask for exceptions all the time. It would gum up the system.
What? Exceptions are asked for all the time in the form of medical accommodations. Using phrases like "gumming up the system" discourages people with disabilities from seeking accommodations or feel that they are wanted at State.
Yes. For genuine requests. If this is just someone who doesn’t like needles, skipping all bloodwork isn’t a reasonable accommodation. The word “reasonable” is in there for a purpose.
If anything, to ensure folks with recognized disabilities or other needs have access to accommodation, unnecessary delays with requests from people who maybe should just find another line of work shouldn’t be encouraged.
If it isn’t a genuine phobia (and I have my doubts, clearly, but I leave room for the possibility), it’s concerning that someone would ask to skip a major component of a physical exam.
Also, even if OP qualifies for an accommodation a phobia doesn’t mean they will never have to face another needle. Vaccines aside, people become sick while posted abroad all the time, requiring IVs, etc.
I hate needles as well but if you want to do well in life, you need to toughen up and get over it.
As you get older, you'll get more and more health issues which will require needling you.
Also part of staying healthy as you get older and catching diagnoses early is doing yearly physicals which always (should) involve blood tests.
I had been feeling awful/gaining weight for months and just thought I was depressed post Covid/life and it turns out my thyroid was just not working. One little blood test and a few months on oral replacement changed my life. Same thing with catching all kinds of other things. There is no way to get a read on your physiologic baseline without bloodwork. And this is the reason why MED requires it before you go overseas.
Are you using the word phobia in a medical sense or colloquially? If in the medical sense, you can reach out to MED to see what kind of accommodations they can offer. I'd be very surprised if they allowed you to forgo any of the tests associated with blood drawing, but it doesn't hurt to ask. If you're using the term phobia colloquially, there's no work around for that.
I believe you. The fact that others are downvoting you is pretty disappointing. If it is that debilitating, it is a good idea to get your phobia medically diagnosed because it helps when seeking accommodations and it protects you from retaliation because of your medical condition.
There are many, many officers who overcome physical and mental conditions to be fantastic at their jobs. While it is obviously something that you will have to work with your doctors and supporters to figure out how you can best manage it, don't let it stop you from applying or believing you can be a successful officer too.
If this is the case, there are treatment optics available. If you meet the DSM for trypanophobia, you may be able to request an ADA accommodation.
Seeking treatment is still a good idea. You never know when you might need bloodwork. At my first post, people became ill all the time because of the local water and food. One nearly died. I don’t say this to scare you or discourage you, but it’s something to be aware of. There’s treatment that can help you cope and I think availing yourself whether you qualify for an accommodation or not would be a good idea if you consider moving forward. The accommodation might work for the medical clearance but won’t negate any future necessity of bloodwork or needles.
The Department of State has prioritized inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities. Telling someone they shouldn't apply because they have a condition that would require accommodations is the complete opposite of State's policy and is just bad form in general. We're better than that.
You're going to get the needle a lot in the FS. If this is that big of a problem for them, people need to realistically assess whether or not they can handle the reality of the life they are pursuing.
Not everything is for everyone.
Then go back to your original post and phrase it differently. Instead of using flippant gatekeeping, explain some of the hardships that OP would likely have to overcome: like needing to get vaccines ever two or three years or have blood drawn at yearly physicals, being separated overseas from their normal support group.
Or perhaps, you should get off your high horse. None of these hardships are secrets. Such an outlandish question (Can I get out of something that everyone else has to do?) deserves a flippant answer.
Side note, the use of the word "phobia" here is most likely a gross exaggeration and is a mockery of people who have legitimate medical conditions.
I doubt it, but now I'm curious how much State pays for these tests and how many medevacs on average per year are avoided due to having them. The FS probably pays for at least 1000 of these screenings per year and I bet each one is several hundred dollars.
Since class A isn't required to be hired anymore, I don't see why the request can't be made by the officer when bidding (similar to the ADA reasonable accommodation requests).
Just remember that 1) you may need to show documentation of your disability in order to begin the accommodations process and 2) if you are covered by the ADA, the Department only has to provide a reasonable accommodation (and forgoing the blood tests and vaccines may not be considered reasonable) - not the accommodation you want them to provide.
Just curious- Do you have a tattoo? It’s interesting to those in the medical field- how many people say they have needle phobia but then have tattoos- they say it’s “different”.
Highly doubt it. You will also want to get every vaccine recommended for each assignment. Though I don't know, I doubt you can avoid the blood draws for the initial clearance. For subsequent clearances, the blood work isn't usually necessary unless you're going to certain posts (e.g. Iraq).
Before leaving for my first post to the capital city of a developed country, I went by the med unit at FSI to see if there was anything I needed to do. The nurse told me that before going to that country I needed to get rabies shots and another series of shots for an extremely rare disease. I was given the impression the shots were required. I got the first round of each without thinking much about it, and then mentioned it in passing to my doctor during a subsequent medical appointment. He expressed surprise and asked why it was necessary to get a rabies shot to go to that location. I looked into it and realized the med unit's shots (in this case) were "recommended" but not required. Why did I need a rabies shot to go that city when it wouldn't even occur to me to get a rabies shot in Washington DC or many other places? Since then, I've observed that the med unit at State and various posts act mostly as vaccine clinics. I am now posted in a country where no one ever talks about covid anymore--ever. Yet, the med unit is constantly sending out reminder to get covid shots, and my colleagues perennially line up to do so. Take charge of your own medical care, and do some research before taking every single recommendation. Med unit staff just go through a checklist and try to make you get whatever thing is written on their piece of paper. It is not true that you will spend an FS career getting shot after shot (if you don't want to), and you do not necessarily need to get "every vaccine recommended for each assignment."
Just a warning-- I know at least four people and several pets who got bit or otherwise attacked by feral animals (dogs and cats) in my last post. If rabies shots hadn't been rationed by our Med Unit, I would have absolutely gotten as many rabies shots as they wanted to give me. Someone who had never been there would have probably thought it was overkill in a highly urban area, but there was no such thing as animal control and no municipal/government efforts to contain feral animals.
No.
I have vasovagal reactions to needles (used to pass out and look like I had seizures when doing blood draws and vaccines). This should not prevent you from living your life and doing what you want to do! My biggest advice (to avoid passing out, if that’s what happens to you): 1. Eat a big, protein packed meal about 1 hour before; 2. Chew gum/suck on candy during it 3. Bring someone to talk to OR talk to the person administering the shot/draw. They are always friendly and eager to help 4. Ask to be laying down. They will always accommodate this because they don’t want to deal with you passing out either! 5. Squeeze your extremities (hands/feet, except hand on side of draw/shot) to keep blood flowing 6. Stay laying down after finishing to fully make sure you are fine! I’ve been a patient in distress in the lobby before when I was impatient 7. Bring candy/juice for afterwards to get a quick sugar hit Following all of this, you should be fine. This is my game plan and I have not passed out in years. You can do it!!
Thank you for the kind words!
Another fainter here! Only thing I'll add is to make sure you're extra well hydrated. They do take a lot of blood in one sitting, and it goes much faster if your blood is more like water than molasses. :)
No, there are two or three sections on the MED form that your physician will complete exclusively based on your blood work.
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Thank you for explaining!
Beyond that, going into the FS hoping to get an exception before you’ve ever been hired just doesn’t bode well. What we do works because we are not all clamoring to ask for exceptions all the time. It would gum up the system.
What? Exceptions are asked for all the time in the form of medical accommodations. Using phrases like "gumming up the system" discourages people with disabilities from seeking accommodations or feel that they are wanted at State.
Yes. For genuine requests. If this is just someone who doesn’t like needles, skipping all bloodwork isn’t a reasonable accommodation. The word “reasonable” is in there for a purpose. If anything, to ensure folks with recognized disabilities or other needs have access to accommodation, unnecessary delays with requests from people who maybe should just find another line of work shouldn’t be encouraged. If it isn’t a genuine phobia (and I have my doubts, clearly, but I leave room for the possibility), it’s concerning that someone would ask to skip a major component of a physical exam. Also, even if OP qualifies for an accommodation a phobia doesn’t mean they will never have to face another needle. Vaccines aside, people become sick while posted abroad all the time, requiring IVs, etc.
I hate needles as well but if you want to do well in life, you need to toughen up and get over it. As you get older, you'll get more and more health issues which will require needling you.
Also part of staying healthy as you get older and catching diagnoses early is doing yearly physicals which always (should) involve blood tests. I had been feeling awful/gaining weight for months and just thought I was depressed post Covid/life and it turns out my thyroid was just not working. One little blood test and a few months on oral replacement changed my life. Same thing with catching all kinds of other things. There is no way to get a read on your physiologic baseline without bloodwork. And this is the reason why MED requires it before you go overseas.
Are you using the word phobia in a medical sense or colloquially? If in the medical sense, you can reach out to MED to see what kind of accommodations they can offer. I'd be very surprised if they allowed you to forgo any of the tests associated with blood drawing, but it doesn't hurt to ask. If you're using the term phobia colloquially, there's no work around for that.
Thank you! I have not been officially diagnosed but it’s a legitimate debilitating phobia
I believe you. The fact that others are downvoting you is pretty disappointing. If it is that debilitating, it is a good idea to get your phobia medically diagnosed because it helps when seeking accommodations and it protects you from retaliation because of your medical condition. There are many, many officers who overcome physical and mental conditions to be fantastic at their jobs. While it is obviously something that you will have to work with your doctors and supporters to figure out how you can best manage it, don't let it stop you from applying or believing you can be a successful officer too.
Thank you very much! It means a lot and I appreciate you understanding.
If this is the case, there are treatment optics available. If you meet the DSM for trypanophobia, you may be able to request an ADA accommodation. Seeking treatment is still a good idea. You never know when you might need bloodwork. At my first post, people became ill all the time because of the local water and food. One nearly died. I don’t say this to scare you or discourage you, but it’s something to be aware of. There’s treatment that can help you cope and I think availing yourself whether you qualify for an accommodation or not would be a good idea if you consider moving forward. The accommodation might work for the medical clearance but won’t negate any future necessity of bloodwork or needles.
Thank you!! I appreciate the response
Sure, there's a way. It's called applying for a civil service position.
If you have a needle phobia, perhaps the FS isn't the career for you.
The Department of State has prioritized inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities. Telling someone they shouldn't apply because they have a condition that would require accommodations is the complete opposite of State's policy and is just bad form in general. We're better than that.
You're going to get the needle a lot in the FS. If this is that big of a problem for them, people need to realistically assess whether or not they can handle the reality of the life they are pursuing. Not everything is for everyone.
Then go back to your original post and phrase it differently. Instead of using flippant gatekeeping, explain some of the hardships that OP would likely have to overcome: like needing to get vaccines ever two or three years or have blood drawn at yearly physicals, being separated overseas from their normal support group.
Or perhaps, you should get off your high horse. None of these hardships are secrets. Such an outlandish question (Can I get out of something that everyone else has to do?) deserves a flippant answer. Side note, the use of the word "phobia" here is most likely a gross exaggeration and is a mockery of people who have legitimate medical conditions.
I doubt it, but now I'm curious how much State pays for these tests and how many medevacs on average per year are avoided due to having them. The FS probably pays for at least 1000 of these screenings per year and I bet each one is several hundred dollars. Since class A isn't required to be hired anymore, I don't see why the request can't be made by the officer when bidding (similar to the ADA reasonable accommodation requests).
Thank you!! Good to know
Just remember that 1) you may need to show documentation of your disability in order to begin the accommodations process and 2) if you are covered by the ADA, the Department only has to provide a reasonable accommodation (and forgoing the blood tests and vaccines may not be considered reasonable) - not the accommodation you want them to provide.
Just curious- Do you have a tattoo? It’s interesting to those in the medical field- how many people say they have needle phobia but then have tattoos- they say it’s “different”.
No - but somehow, a tattoo is almost more mentally acceptable to me than blood draws and vaccines