No Vaccination Records

[gflower 0]

Hi everyone!

I'm having my medical in London on Monday. I have (pre-historic looking) records of my Diptheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough vaccines from when I was one, but there's no record of my Measles Mumps & Rubella and my family doctor doesn't seem to have them on file even though I had them (according to my mother).

I don't really want to have them again as I don't think thats so healthy so just asking if anyone else had to have them again in their medical because they didn't have proof? Or if there are any peeps from the UK who knows how to track down their lost vaccine records through their NHS number or something. Not quite sure how/if/why to do this.....

Please let me know if you can help!

Thank you

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Hi everyone!

I'm having my medical in London on Monday. I have (pre-historic looking) records of my Diptheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough vaccines from when I was one, but there's no record of my Measles Mumps & Rubella and my family doctor doesn't seem to have them on file even though I had them (according to my mother).

I don't really want to have them again as I don't think thats so healthy so just asking if anyone else had to have them again in their medical because they didn't have proof? Or if there are any peeps from the UK who knows how to track down their lost vaccine records through their NHS number or something. Not quite sure how/if/why to do this.....

Please let me know if you can help!

Thank you

Doesn't really matter if you find them because a DTP from infancy would have to have another. Needs to be no longer than 10 years ago. Get a MMR, Tdap/Td/Dtp (any version or that combo), and a flu shot since it is currently flu season (Oct 1-Mar 31). Tell Knightsbridge you had chickenpox and you are excused from the varicella shot. If you can get those free from NHS before Monday, you are going to be way ahead for AOS. I would even ask Knightsbridge to hold your report until your doctor can fax them that you got immunized. It must be on your Knightsbridge medical report to count for AOS. If you get the shots later you will have to pay a civil surgeon in the US to fill out a new immunization record. Huge hassle!

PS...this is the wrong forum for K1 or UK issues, but somebody will probably move it.

Edited November 16, 2011 by Nich-Nick

[Brit Abroad 166]

Ask your doc if they can run a titer test for antibodies. That shows either vaccination or exposure by infection itself, based on the antibody levels in the blood.

If the NHS won't run it for you, I'm sure there are labs in the UK that will still provide the service for a fee.

Depending on your age, you could check with the school board for your TB and anything else that was administered via the school. NHS are pretty good about maintaining your accrued records as you move around doctors, so if they say they don't have vaccination history, I'd take their word for it.

Is your mum sure that you didn't have a World Health Organization card that shows any additional vaccinations? I know that most kids born pre-mid-70s were issued with them at the first vaccination, if that helps!

PS Nich/Nick is absolutely correct. I had full records of all shots administered and was still advised to have the "booster" shots prior to AoS. If you're marrying into the military, talk to the family clinic on post once you arrive in the US as many of them will issue you the vaccine number and a stamped, dated form confirming you've been immunised. Many shots are not required prior to AoS, but it's certainly a lot cheaper to have them in the UK than here in the US.

Edited November 16, 2011 by Brit Abroad

[mr and mrs 187]

PS...this is the wrong forum for K1 or UK issues, but somebody will probably move it.

how are you not a moderator yet? you should have the *power*. because you're GREAT!

[milimelo 4,283]

Moving to K-1 visa.

[cathy2904 97]

I don't know how old you are but the MMR vaccine hasn't been around that long. My elder son is 24 and he was one of the first to have it. I believe it was introduced in 1988.

[JoannaV 173]

I didn't have record of my second MMR shot because I received it in school and I guess the NHS never put that in with my other records. So I had to have a *third* shot at the medical. (I did have a very lightly pencilled in "MR" in my handwritten record )

If you've never experienced negative effects from vaccinations then I don't think receiving the MMR again will be harmful; however you're right that it's completely medically unnecessary. You could therefore look into blood titres, although with your medical on Monday you may decide it's not worth the delay. According to Wiki the second shot is aimed at the 2-5% of people who don't develop measles immunity after the first shot...

[gflower 0]

Thanks guys, but with a bit of nagging and persistence my GP finally found my records. Thank you anyway!