Vaccination Records Missing

[TigerFlower 61]

Hello VJers,

I've a question regarding vaccination records. While we haven't yet received our NoA2, we're trying to prepare. My fiance (England) is trying to get his history of vaccination records as a child, but keeps running into a dead end. They keep telling him they simply can't find them. Is this going to be a problem when it comes to his medical exam at Knightsbridge? Thank you for any advice you can offer.

Erinn

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

Hello VJers,

I've a question regarding vaccination records. While we haven't yet received our NoA2, we're trying to prepare. My fiance (England) is trying to get his history of vaccination records as a child, but keeps running into a dead end. They keep telling him they simply can't find them. Is this going to be a problem when it comes to his medical exam at Knightsbridge? Thank you for any advice you can offer.

Erinn

I found a link that might be of assistance http://travel.state.gov/pdf/medical/LND-MED-ENGL-0001-0808.pdf

I believe if you don't have a record of your vaccinations - you can get a blood test that will determine which ones you have had.

[TigerFlower 61]

Thank you! I'll look into this.

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

Hello VJers,

I've a question regarding vaccination records. While we haven't yet received our NoA2, we're trying to prepare. My fiance (England) is trying to get his history of vaccination records as a child, but keeps running into a dead end. They keep telling him they simply can't find them. Is this going to be a problem when it comes to his medical exam at Knightsbridge? Thank you for any advice you can offer.

Erinn

Actually, your fiance can go to his doctor and request titres. This is blood work that will determine if he has antibodies in his system that show immunity. He would only have these antibodies if he has been vaccinated in the past. In the case of chicken pox (varicella), if he has ever had chicken pox, the antibodies will show up in the blood. If he remembers having chicken pox, I believe he only needs to give the year to the doctor at Knightsbridge, and she will mark it on his vaccination form. My fiance had to have titres drawn and the only problem we had was that his GP's office staff didn't quite understand why he needed them, and were a little difficult to deal with. Eventually, they worked with him, and we got what we needed. Good luck!

[TigerFlower 61]

@Wishin-n-hopin, that's the same thing my fiance is experiencing.. they have no clue what it is he needs and looks at him like he's crazy . I'll pass this along for him to request. Thank you so much!!

[cathy2904 97]

I just got my GP to give them to me again. I needed MMR anyway as that wasn't around when I was a child so I only actually needed the Diptheria/Pertussis/Tetanus booster. The varicella vaccination isn't available in the UK anyway, so at the medical they will just ask if you have ever had chicken pox.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hello VJers,

I've a question regarding vaccination records. While we haven't yet received our NoA2, we're trying to prepare. My fiance (England) is trying to get his history of vaccination records as a child, but keeps running into a dead end. They keep telling him they simply can't find them. Is this going to be a problem when it comes to his medical exam at Knightsbridge? Thank you for any advice you can offer.

Erinn

My advice--just get the needed shots for adults.

Tdap - or get DT, DTP or DtaP and it will be accepted for AOS. (must be no longer than 10 years ago)

MMR (if born in 1957 or later) Get a second shot 4 wks later if you have time

Varicella – Not routinely given in the UK ; a history of having chickenpox excuses you from the shot. They take your word for it at the visa medical exam.

Influenza - During flu season only, October 1 through March 31. This was a new recommendation dated November 2010 for all ages over 6 months. Older lists will say flu shots for over age 50. It changed.

So the reality is

Tdap has to be within 10 years, so a baby shot wouldn't get you out of that one.

Varicella Just say you had chicken pox without any proof required and you get out of that.

MMR Get the first less than 4 weeks before your medical exam and you don't have to get the second. You will be given a waiver by USCIS because it was medically inappropriate to get dose 2 on the date of the medical exam, which is the date USCIS goes by.

Influenza You can avoid this shot by having you medical (date of record) before flu season begins on Oct 1.

Many NHS doctors will do those shots for free. Way easier and cheaper than paying for the titre, which involves a needle too.

[VeeNDee 44]

MMR Get the first less than 4 weeks before your medical exam and you don't have to get the second. You will be given a waiver by USCIS because it was medically inappropriate to get dose 2 on the date of the medical exam, which is the date USCIS goes by.

Do you know if you will have to get the second shot in order for your AOS to be approved?? Or so long as you have the first shot you are good to go?

[Adriene H 89]

@Wishin-n-hopin, that's the same thing my fiance is experiencing.. they have no clue what it is he needs and looks at him like he's crazy . I'll pass this along for him to request. Thank you so much!!

You're not alone .... we called my husband's GP not long ago and they'd never heard of a titre test

[TigerFlower 61]

Thank you for your good advice!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Do you know if you will have to get the second shot in order for your AOS to be approved?? Or so long as you have the first shot you are good to go?

It's not a straightforward answer.

IF everything was complete at the medical exam and all shots were current at the time, and the form was filled out properly then USCIS will accept that DS-3025 as meeting vaccination requirements. Going to a civil surgeon in the US or further shots are not necessary. The DS-3025 would be marked "insufficient time interval" by MMR, and results marked "Incomplete" and "may be eligible for blanket waiver." The waiver would be given for the shot (2nd MMR) not appropriate the day the DS-3025 was filled out and signed. You don't have to get it later if you get the DS-3025 right.

BUT IF there was anything not marked on the DS-3025 you got later, then.... Let me use an example. Varicella isn't available in the UK. So if somebody didn't say at the medical exam they had chickenpox, there would be no waiver excuse by the varicella shot. Their DS-3025 would not be complete. So they must get the varicella shot once in the US and have a civil surgeon sign off on Form I-693. So while the CS is evaluating, he looks at the MMR that couldn't be given on the date of the exam abroad. By now the 4 week interval between MMR shots is long passed and it's perfectly safe to have that 2nd MMR. There is no longer an excuse so it would be needed. The old DS-3025 is not going to work because the I-693 has replaced it as the vaccination shot record.

I hope that makes sense. If it's perfect on the DS-3025 then USCIS accepts it. If for any reason something is not complete (like even if the doctor forgot to sign it), a civil surgeon will have to do an I-693. A new form on a new date may mean the time interval excuse is over.

[sara80 17]

So the reality is

Tdap has to be within 10 years, so a baby shot wouldn't get you out of that one.

Varicella Just say you had chicken pox without any proof required and you get out of that.

MMR Get the first less than 4 weeks before your medical exam and you don't have to get the second. You will be given a waiver by USCIS because it was medically inappropriate to get dose 2 on the date of the medical exam, which is the date USCIS goes by.

Influenza You can avoid this shot by having you medical (date of record) before flu season begins on Oct 1.

Many NHS doctors will do those shots for free. Way easier and cheaper than paying for the titre, which involves a needle too.

Nich-Nick: see for the MMR .. if I had measles vaccination at the age of 5 and clinically had mumps and rubella (plus a vaccination when I was 11) - do I need to get the shot anyway? And if I have and get it done at the medical, will I be given the waiver for the dose 2?

It's getting closer and I'm about to start panicking!! lol

[VeeNDee 44]

Thanks for your reply Nich-Nick. I can't get my second shot of MMR not due to time restrictions but health restrictions (can't have live vaccines with my current medication). I am hoping with a doctor's note explaining that, and my first shot in childhood that it will be enough. I had titers done and it showed I was immune to mumps and rubella, but not measles (It showed I had the shot but not enough antibodies). I'm hoping he will give me a medical waiver the day of, and then I won't have to worry about getting the 2nd shot while filing for AOS. I will be bookmarking your reply about those forms to make sure I get things done right the day of the exam. Thanks again for your reply!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Nich-Nick: see for the MMR .. if I had measles vaccination at the age of 5 and clinically had mumps and rubella (plus a vaccination when I was 11) - do I need to get the shot anyway? And if I have and get it done at the medical, will I be given the waiver for the dose 2?

It's getting closer and I'm about to start panicking!! lol

Thanks for your reply Nich-Nick. I can't get my second shot of MMR not due to time restrictions but health restrictions (can't have live vaccines with my current medication). I am hoping with a doctor's note explaining that, and my first shot in childhood that it will be enough. I had titers done and it showed I was immune to mumps and rubella, but not measles (It showed I had the shot but not enough antibodies). I'm hoping he will give me a medical waiver the day of, and then I won't have to worry about getting the 2nd shot while filing for AOS. I will be bookmarking your reply about those forms to make sure I get things done right the day of the exam. Thanks again for your reply!

To both of you--your cases are a bit different than run of the mill people who just go get a shot. It will be the doctor's decision. Take documentation with you proving disease or contraindications due to medication.

Sara, it sounds like you had dose 1 as a child. The dose two may be required. Seems like I read somewhere clinical diagnosis of Measles and rubella isnt reliable because there are so many spotty diseases. I can't speak for the doctor on how he will evaluate your situation. Keep in mind ZERO shots are required for the visa, but if you get it all documented as I explain, you get to skip the civil surgeon hassle in the US. I would just get a MMR shot at my GP before the medical and be done.

Vee-- Anything not medically appropriate is excuse for a waiver. It up to the doctor to decide if that qualifies in his mind to mark your sheet "not medically appropriate." if he marks it, USCIS will give you a waiver.

Edited July 20, 2012 by Nich-Nick

[Redflame2012 32]

This happened to me so I went to my GP (ie general practitioner) and requested the vaccinations I needed to have. They were free of charge, except for the TB vac.

The other option was to have the vaccinations done in London where I had the medical. However the cost was ridiculous.