thought i would write a little about what to expect from the london medical as i've found other people's postings on here so useful. i went yesterday - the place was easy to find and very close to the bond street tube station. didn't have to wait long, filled out a form, then went through to have a chat about vaccinations. now i have found the whole vaccinations thing a little unclear. i'm given this huge list when i got my interview date and it looks like i need a LOT of jabs! so i've been for a few, but only now when i go for my medical do i get to see this new form which states the age requirements for all these different vaccinations. turns out i hardly need any! some are for under 18s, some are for over 65s only etc. one thing which is a pain for me is that i fall right on the border of the age requirement for the new HPV vaccine - it's for up to the age of 26 and i'm 27 in 3 weeks time. i discussed this with the nurse and decided that i should postpone getting the visa until i'm 27 and can avoid getting the course of 3 injections (which, incidentally, costs £120!!). it doesn't affect us much, seeing as it's not much longer to wait, but it does mean that i have to go to my interview without my medical results. the nurse said this would be no problem....... i'm hoping she's right!! don't need another hold-up.
anyways, that dealt with, i went through for my chest x-ray, then sat in a robe until the doctor could see me. very nice irish male doctor who was very kind, asked me a couple of general questions, looked in my ears, measured height and weight, made me read an eye chart, listened to my heart and lungs, poked a few places... and - this is the best bit - took the teeniest tinyest peek down the front of my knickers. this was SO a check i didn't have a willy!!! nothing else it coulda been soooo funny! then he took a little blood and it was all over. very much nothing to worry about and feels so good to be one step nearer to the visa! got my interview next tuesday, so hoping that the whole vaccinations thing won't be a problem, and looking forward to being done and on our way to NYC
hope this was helpful to people!
emma.

Don't feel bad. Kris and I are still majorly confused about the whole vaccination thing. Unfortunately he won't be 27 til December

Robyn -- Kris doesn't need to get the HPV vaccination, no matter what his age -- it is only required for women.

Yeah - HPV sucks... was it just £120 at Knightsbridge or is that from your local GP? I need to get it as I am not 27 until next Feb so there is no way I can and am willing to wait until then!!!

LOL shots confuse the hell out of me.. Only other thing I think we are confused on is the MMR. It's a 2 stage injection he's being told which have to be spread between 3 mths. Anyone know more about this???

yeah, I was told the same thing... that reminds me: I'd better go back for my second jab soon

I'm 26 in June and the nurse told me that when I turn 26 I won't need it.....

I saw the Irish guy too. He was very nice and he forgot to look down my pants . However, he was a bit fussy about a letter my GP gave me and put my medical results on hold. All ok though now, my GP got on the phone (possibly in a rage) and the Senior medical officer signed me off - so my results are on the way to the embassy

so then it has to be done before the medical? that's going to so suck becauase we are praying to have everything done for him to get here by first of june

no no; you don't have to do it before anything... I had MMR and DT, about a week before the medical, then had it, then had my interview, and have been approved and have the visa in hand; I don't HAVE to do anything more

but then, the whole reason to do the vaccinations now is to have it all sorted for AOS (and for free ), so I want to make sure I get it done before I leave the country

even then, they may not make a fuss - the nurse was SORT of implying that it was optional - but I'm going to do it to be on the safe side

Ok so he doesn't have to have the MMR done before he get approved.. thats nice.. i'm not bothered on cost because if he gets them here it will be free for the most part since he'll be on my insurance LOL

You've just relieved me tons if this is the case

Huh -- when Bruce had his MMR it was done in one jab.

The MMR is a two stage injection and the vaccines need to be given one month apart - according to the practice nurse at my GP surgery. However, when the doc transcribed my vaccination record onto the sheet he put down that the MMR was complete.

the nurse who gave me mine was a bit vague, but I THINK what she was getting at was that one is normally fine, but it CAN wear off, so the second 'makes sure'

that's what I understood, anyway

Yeah I think booster vacs are just in case the first one didn't work for some or other reason. Sounds like booster vaccinations for dogs and cats - there is some opinion out there that vets give more than actually needed as a means of making money

Cheers for the medical write up!

It seems the vaccination records I had as a kid have been misplaced or not entered onto the computer. One of the drawbacks of being over 30 I guess Anyway, I didn't realise the MMR jab required a month, effectively. I'm guessing it would be sound advice to book the relevant jabs with my local GP right now, given our NOA2 is imminent? Also, I'm assuming they'd be free, paid for by the NHS?


Stu

Yeah they're free. My medical records only listed tetanus and something else that I have no clue about (probably TB I think although it didn't actually say TB). Anyway, yes book an appointment with the practice nurse and get them done asap. I'm in my thirties too and MMR and tetanus/diptheria were the only ones I required.
The doc has still signed off my MMR as complete even though I only had one of the two jabs.

I'm pretty certain it says on the chart if you are female and under 27... here

It really sucks as I don't know if I am going to have to pay for it as it isn't all that common at the moment... I really need to call and speak to my GP...

Cheers mate


Stu

Maybe there are different MMR formulations that are administered? I'm just wondering, because of course Bruce came over on a CR1, and all the relevant jabs need to be done for an immigrant visa.

(*potters off to Wikipedia to investigate MMR jabs*)

I had my MMR when I was a kid and I am pretty certain it was one jab then but who knows... it's been a long time!!

I just recently had MMR at the Docs and that was only one jab also.

ooh lots of replies yep, the cut-off age is 27 - i'm 26 right now and will turn 27 on 6th april, so that's why we're waiting out till then - i'm not brilliantly clear about what's going on to be honest, i'm going to call knightsbridge tomorrow and check this stuff. i'm getting a bit nervey about going for my interview without the medical results. what i think will happen is that knightsbridge will just hold onto my results and as soon as i'm 27 they will send them over to the embassy, who will then approve my visa. i will clarify this with the nurse though. the other one i'm missing is the MMR - looking at all the replies now i'm getting worried that this might hold us up... but the nurse didn't say it'd be a problem - i have a letter from her to take to my local GP so that they can do it tomorrow (when i'm going back for my 2nd of 3 hep B jabs that it turns out i don't even need!!!)
regarding the HPV - they said my local docs might not even have the vaccine as it's so new. it's a vaccine that you should rightly have before being sexually active, because if you've already been exposed to the virus it can't do anything for you. no way of knowing, but ah well. seems like cervical cancer is a big killer in the US - i reckon it's a pretty good thing getting this vaccine to young girls.
well, i'll report back

I already replied to your other thread, but something just occurred to me -

as far as I'm aware, vaccinations are ONLY required for AOS, and not to 'pass' the initial medical for the visa itself... so why do you need to have your medical results held? surely they can tick off all the parts you need for now, and by the time you get to AOS you'll have turned 27 and it will no longer be a problem...? or am I missing something?

same goes for MMR - I got mine done before the medical because it's free on the NHS (didn't want to pay Knightsbridge prices!), and because it's a bit more convenient to have the official people rubber stamp my form - but you don't NEED it for the medical; you need it for AOS, so you CAN leave it for months more if you want

Thing is there is no chance of me waiting on the HPV for AOS... although it depends on when they check it for AOS - any ideas? I *might* be able to get away with it if I file for AOS in August then I have six months until I turn 27... I am going to find out how much it will cost me to get done here and then get Jeremy to check how much it will cost for me to get done there on his insurance and weigh up the pros and cons... that is the cost

The HPV vaccine should become common-place very soon as they are now talking about giving it to both boys and girls before they become sexually active.

Hmmm - maybe it would be worth keeping an eye on the medical media... now *that* sounds like fun

Hi

I had the first of my HPV vaccinations done at the Knightsbridge doctors as I am 26 and not 27 till March next year. It cost about £120 there, and I spoke to my GP and it would have cost about the same through them as you need a private perscription and then buy it from the pharmacy.

I now need the second and third shots and will have them done in the US. I call Planned Parenthood who I know administer the shots. I was told the remaning two shots will cost $220 a piece so a comparable price to the UK.

FYI - you do not need all 3 shots before AOS. I checked with the London Embassy - as long as you have started the process you are fine. I will not have had my third shot by the time I file my AOS.

Eww - that is so expensive... I can't quite believe that it costs that much!!! That is crazy!!

I know! I was in complete shock when I found out. But then when I realised that I may need all three shots before I could AOS, and that it could push back being with Rory. Then the price paled in comparison. I'm so relieved I don't need all three before AOS that i've forgotten about the cost!

At times like these I am so glad I'm old

Thanks for providing that info though, there's a lot of confusion surrounding the HPV vaccine.

wow i didn't realise it was £120 per shot!!! ouch i'm lucky i'm about to turn 27 huh? anyway, this business of the vaccinations being just for 'AOS' (that's immigration? what does it stand for? is that when you enter the country on your visa?) - that's interesting - i remember reading that this was true for some sorts of visa and not others. now for the really embarassing bit. i don't actually know which visa i am applying for!! i never worked that much out - like the code and everything - there are so many different ones and K ones etc - i THINK i am getting the CR1/IR1 (are these two different types?? - what's the difference! how do i find out which it was i applied for?) looking at all you guys who've replied to this post, looks like you are all K1. i've tried looking up the different types and i'm at a loss. i take it at my interview they'll know which sort of visa i need... but i'd like to be prepared, and if it does make a difference for the vaccinations, i need to know now! can anyone help me? i'm married to a US citizen, we got married in the UK and straight afterwards filled in the I130 form and everything that goes along with it. feel really embarassed to ask this, i should know this - feel like i'm so disorganised about it. but we never knew the code for the visa, we just started out sending in our I130.......

Are you living together in the UK?

I think K3 is for a spousal visa for a USC residing in the US applying for a spouse residing outside the US.

Direct Consular Filing (DCF) or CR1 is for the USC residing outside the US with his/her spouse and wishing for them both to return to the US.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

whew ok i can stop sweating...... i have found this page: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare for the first time (god knows what we were reading when we first started applying. anyway.)
yep, looks like we are applying for the IR1/CR1 after all. we are living together in the UK. he came over on a fiance visa and we got married over here so that we wouldn't have to be seperated at all. we've been living here since we got married. reading that page looks like we could have done either K3 or IR1/CR1 or both, so think it was good overall that we did the IR1/CR1... although it does mean that i think i do need those vaccinations before i can be granted the visa. will ask the nurse when i call up tomorrow. but the good thing is that i can start work as soon as i get to the states and i don't have to do this AOS which i gather is adjustment of status, as i will be a permanent resident already woo! and hoo!

Glad you sussed it out. We wanted to do things that way but read there would be problems working on the fiance visa to the UK?? Anyway we did the K1 instead. But looks like you found a good way to do things as you can work and leave/reenter the country on the visa you plumped for.

ah yeah, my husband had to adjust his status over here so that he could work and it cost around £500! was pretty bad... but worth it so that we could stay together

Wow - the HPV is £120 per injection and you need three?!?!?! Is that right?!? Damn - I need to speak to my doc soon and figure it all out... I can't believe they just introduced it!! GRRR!!!

What's even more insulting is it is basically a vaccine against warts!! I mean, come on!!!

not just warts it's to prevent cervical cancer being caused - this is a big killer of women and i wish in a way i'd been able to have this vaccine as a young girl. it's just a pain for those of us who are too old for it to be effective now, yet still have to get it done. anyway, you never know, it might just save your life! i'd say get it done asap.

But that is why there is screening in the UK - I had a smear test last year (yuck ) which came back fine... I can understand it is important but for it to cost so much is insane... that's £360 for a vaccine... that's more than the medical... by a long ways I just don't have that sort of money so I don't know how I am going to manage it...

I think you need to have a friendly word with your doctor. I just did a price search and the retail price for Gardasil in the UK is £240 per full series or 360 US D if you have them in the states. There are clinics (well-women clinics and travel vaccinations clinics) who are charging between £360 and £450 per series and I assume that this includes overhead costs of running the clinic. If your doctor can get the vaccine series at cost then it might be worth trying.
I used to work for the Prescription Pricing Authority and you would be amazed at how much and how little (when you're just paying a prescription fee) you get charged for drugs against their actual cost.
Doctors surgeries don't normally buy drugs up front because they simply prescribe them. However they are aware of the cost as they are encouraged to prescribe cheaper generic brands to help reduce costs to the government and I believe they are issued with some pricing information. They do buy vaccinations up front though and generally get reimbursed for them by sending the prescription direct to the PPA rather than sending you to the chemist with the script. Unfortunately there will be no generic alternative for the HPV vaccine so you will have to pay the retail cost at least, but given that they buy other vaccinations up front there may be a way they can help you by obtaining Gardasil and having you reimburse them for the cost.

Yes do check with your GP. I spoke to mine and she said in Hampshire she was unable to give me the vaccine without a private perscription. But she thought it could vary by county. Also that was only the price Planned Parenthooc quoted me in the US. I'm sure there are alternatives.

Hmmm - yes will defo have to do some digging I think - I need to call my GP as I was meant to when I got back from the US but haven't got round to it yet - I'll see if I can get Jeremy to find out about it in the US as well and see how much it would cost to get on his med insurance - it might mean postponing AOS for a few days to get the first shot in (have to arrange for me to be on his med insurance) but I can't afford £360 for a vaccine!!!

Hey,
Thanks for this chat!
I know most of you are from UK, but I just hope it will be the same in France: HPV vaccine is not required before K1 interview and as long as you've started getting the shots, you don't need all the 3 of them for AOS... That is a pretty good news!
I am however very pissed at this new requirement! They could at least warn people that it takes so much time and that it is so expensive. Plus really, this thing is so new that I am not even sure they know exactly in which cases it should work or not...
Oh well.. Such is life.
Byebye

Faustine

Agreed- although with the number of immgrants and people in the system I doubt they would bother letting everyone know - can you imagine!? It would slow them down even more!!