Canadian vaccine costs

[lilacvioletiris 11]

My fiance' went to his general practitioner yesterday to get started on the process of getting his vaccine records for his medical exam and AOS. They gave him a prescription for the doses of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccine. He just emailed me and said each dose is $70! Does that seem normal? Is getting a prescription normal for vaccines in Canada?

He is having his blood drawn to check for his other immunities as he only had a limited vaccine record in his files. He is in Ontario.

[LiLMermaid 2]

They aren't listed on the immunization requirements page.

[lilacvioletiris 11]

I read through this page and was under the impression that the 2009 Technical Instructions for Vaccinations for Civil Surgeons needed to be followed. There was an update that happened on Dec. 13, 2009.

USCIS page about vaccinations

[SapphireDreams 71]

He should follow what's on this list:

http://www.panelphysicians.com/Pages/Age6.htm

Hep B is for people under 18 and I don't think anyone needs Hep A.

[lilacvioletiris 11]

It doesn't seem like Dr. Seidan has updated his website since 2008. I don't want to get stuck in the AOS stage because the new 2009 technical instructions are out, and the panel physician hadn't posted those changes to his website. I see that is what is on the panel physicians website. I will have to see if my fiance' actually picked up the prescription or not for Hep A and Hep B. I am sure it is something you can't "return".

[Danu 19]

It doesn't seem like Dr. Seidan has updated his website since 2008. I don't want to get stuck in the AOS stage because the new 2009 technical instructions are out, and the panel physician hadn't posted those changes to his website. I see that is what is on the panel physicians website. I will have to see if my fiance' actually picked up the prescription or not for Hep A and Hep B. I am sure it is something you can't "return".

From my experiance, I can say he shouldn't need need hep A based on the fact I never had it and had my medical in 2009 and got through fine.. Hep A and B are age specific and aren't needed if you are over the age to get it. The change in december only affected HPV and Zooster being removed as needed vaccines.

Edited January 28, 2010 by Danu

[LiLMermaid 2]

I read through this page and was under the impression that the 2009 Technical Instructions for Vaccinations for Civil Surgeons needed to be followed. There was an update that happened on Dec. 13, 2009.

USCIS page about vaccinations

I still don't see Hep A listed on that page either. Hep B is and so is the flu vaccine but they only apply to certain age groups. Hep B for under 18 year olds and the flu for over 50.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Well they are definitely on the list, but there is a clause about the vaccinations being "age appropriate" and the Hep B is for people under 18 years of age. I'm not certain about Hep A, but I don't think it's age appropriate for someone in the 18-64 category either.

Check out this link: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/civil_sur...nstructions.pdf

Gives an example of what a 12 year old would need vs. a 35 year old during AOS.

[trailmix 77]

Let me preface this post by saying that I have never really looked in to the vaccination portion that carefully, but from reading the information on the link you provided lila, I find this:

Q. Do I have to receive all the vaccines on CDC's vaccination list for the immigrant population, or only the ones that are age appropriate?

A. You are required to document receipt of vaccines that are age appropriate for you. The civil surgeon will annotate Form I-693 to indicate that you were not required to receive a particular vaccine because it was not age appropriate at the time of the medical examination.

I also see:

Q: Where can I find more information about the vaccination requirements for immigration purposes and how these requirements affect the completion of Form I-693?

A. CDC publishes the Technical Instructions including the vaccination component (see link to the right).

So when I follow the link to the CDC I find the immunizations guide by age here:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5901-Immunization.pdf

It states for Hep. A and B: Recommended if some other risk factor is present (e.g., based on medical, occupational, lifestyle, or other indications)

Anyway, just thought I would share that - hopefully it's helpful!

Oh and it is normal for vaccinations like that to be pricey in Canada and it is normal to have to fill a prescription for one - since this is not your standard - run of the mill - vaccination - those are free.

Edited January 28, 2010 by trailmix

[lilacvioletiris 11]

Thanks Danu. Maybe you were able to get under the changes. Thankfully the HPV and zooster isn't required. I guess I would like to hear from K-1 who had their medical done in 2010, if any are out there yet.

This is where I got my list that I gave to my fiance' for his vaccine record:

USCIS memo on vaccine changes

Required Vaccinations. Section 212(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act specifies the following vaccinations:

• mumps, measles, rubella

• polio

• tetanus and diphtheria toxoids

• pertussis

• haemophilius influenzae type b

• hepatitis b

Beginning on December 14, 2009, additional vaccine requirements are determined by CDC according to the following criteria:

1) The vaccine must be age-appropriate as recommended by the ACIP for the general U.S. population; AND

2) The vaccine must either protect against a disease that has the potential to cause an outbreak, OR the vaccine must protect against a disease that has been eliminated in the United States or is in the process of elimination in the United States.

The following additional vaccines are required for immigration purposes on or after December 14, 2009:

• varicella

• influenza

• pneumococcal

• rotavirus

• hepatitis A

• meningococcal

The officer should refer to the vaccination chart below and follow the guidelines provided in this section when reviewing the vaccination record to determine whether an applicant is inadmissible because the applicant has not received a particular vaccine. If an applicant is inadmissible, the officer should determine whether the inadmissibility may be waived because receipt of the vaccine is "not medically appropriate." The term "not medically appropriate" applies to vaccinations that are not age appropriate, where there is a medical contraindication, where there is an insufficient time interval, or when it is not the flu season.

If the civil surgeon checks that all vaccination requirements have been met but information is missing from the vaccination record in that the officer is unable to determine admissibility, the officer should return the Form I-693 to the applicant for corrective action.

Applicants who have completed the initial DTP/DTaP/DT or Td/Tdap series should receive a Td/Tdap booster shot every 10 years. If the last dose was received more than 10 years ago, the applicant is required to have the booster shot before Form I-693 can be approved.

[lilacvioletiris 11]

Glad to know that "not regular run of the mill" prescriptions do actually have to be purchased at the pharmacist. It was just odd to me. Needed confirmation and thank you, trailmix.

My fiance' did say that the nurse and doctor had a 40 minute consultation on what vaccines he should get yesterday, what blood tests to do, and they had him get a chest extra for something too (not sure what vaccine that was for). Very odd. One step closer though, one step closer.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

When I called Seiden's office to confirm what vaccines I needed, I specifically asked if I needed Hep A&B. They said NO.

And yes, vaccines may cost a lot! 2 chicken pox shots cost $160.

[Danu 19]

its not a change though, its always been as medically needed and age appropriate. Hep A is given to babies and Hep B to anyone under 18, so they are both age inappropriate if hes over 18. the only thing it changed was the HPV/Zooster thing, everything else is the same as it was.

Edited January 28, 2010 by Danu

[lilacvioletiris 11]

When I called Seiden's office to confirm what vaccines I needed, I specifically asked if I needed Hep A&B. They said NO.

And yes, vaccines may cost a lot! 2 chicken pox shots cost $160.

I guess I will get my fiance' to call then since it looks like your medical exam would have been before the Dec. 14, 2009 cut off mentioned in the memo.

Crazy how much the vaccines cost! Glad he had chicken pox as a kid (and it is the only verbally declarable immunity accepted, although not required).

[birdnerd 5]

If your fiancé decides that he wants to get Hep A and B vaccines (upon the advice of his physician), he should look into getting the Twinrix vaccine, which covers you for both, may be cheaper than purchasing them separately.