Questions about medical exam in Montreal

[kitchen_princess 1]

I asked about this on the Spouse Visa Process and Procedures forum, but didn't really get answers to my specific questions, so I thought maybe it would be more appropriate to ask here.

Our CR-1 petition is being processed at NVC, so I'm planning ahead for the medicam exam. I will be undergoing the exam in Montreal, so if anyone has personal experience to share with regards to my questions, I would really appreciate it.

My questions concern the vaccination requirements. I have had most the the required vaccines when I was a child. However, I may not be able to provide my medical book to prove it (it's at my parents', hopefully they will find it, but maybe not). My regular physician gave me a prescription for a tetanus booster and a hep B vaccine, but refused to give me boosters for all the other diseases, as she claims they are not given to adults (she is a very non-interventionist doctor).

So, my questions are:

1) If, when I show up for the medical exam, I cannot provide proof that I had most of the vaccines done as a child, will they give me all the shots on the spot? Will I have to pay for them, and how much (approximately)?

2) What if I am not vaccinated against hepatitis B when I show up? I have read that this particular vaccine requires several rounds of shots spread over several months. Will it cause problems if I am not fully immunized against hep B (since, even if they give me a shot on the spot, I won't have time to have the other rounds done)?

Thank you in advance!

[kc247 22]

From my understanding you don't need Hep B if you are over 18.

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

I had no vaccination records, but I went to my local hospital and filled out some form and about 2 weeks later they called me and I went and picked them up. I see here you are from Belgian though, but is there anyway you can call the hospital where you grew up and they can mail you something?

[NikLR 13,220]

You can get your doctor to get your blood tests done for immunity if you want. I did the medical in montreal, got the MMR and Dtap done at my health unit, and showed immunity via blood tests for the others. Medisys will give you a waiver for the rest because they're not required for your age.

[kitchen_princess 1]

From my understanding you don't need Hep B if you are over 18.

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

I had no vaccination records, but I went to my local hospital and filled out some form and about 2 weeks later they called me and I went and picked them up. I see here you are from Belgian though, but is there anyway you can call the hospital where you grew up and they can mail you something?

Thanks for the link, but I keep seeing different requirements in different places. The USCIS website lists polio and hepatitis and is pretty vague regarding age:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3384cc5222ff5210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=6abe6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

I spent my childhood in a couple of different places, so it'd be complicated to get records from the hospitals and doctors. At this point, I'm really hoping my mother locates the records she kept.

[kitchen_princess 1]

You can get your doctor to get your blood tests done for immunity if you want. I did the medical in montreal, got the MMR and Dtap done at my health unit, and showed immunity via blood tests for the others. Medisys will give you a waiver for the rest because they're not required for your age.

I mentioned the possibility of getting an immunity blood test done to my doctor, but she seemed reticent. She seemed to think these requirements were unreasonable and was refusing to play their game, or something. Which isn't totally fair to me, it's not like I put these requirements into place...

But it's good to know that I'll get an age waiver for some of the vaccines.

So has anyone reading this actually had some vaccines done at Medisys in Montreal on the day of the exam??? Did it cost anything extra?

[VeeNDee 44]

I mentioned the possibility of getting an immunity blood test done to my doctor, but she seemed reticent. She seemed to think these requirements were unreasonable and was refusing to play their game, or something. Which isn't totally fair to me, it's not like I put these requirements into place...

But it's good to know that I'll get an age waiver for some of the vaccines.

So has anyone reading this actually had some vaccines done at Medisys in Montreal on the day of the exam??? Did it cost anything extra?

I don't know about Medisys and if their requirements are different, but for Dr. Cheema in Surrey BC, they have a list of required vaccines on their website sorted by age.

http://drcheema.ca/

Click on USA Immigration Medical Exam at the top. Scroll down to where it lists your age and see what is required. The other vaccines don't apply to you (I wish I'd figured this out sooner as I got Hep A/B shots and apparently didn't need them, but oh well). You'll get a waiver for the ones of the other ages.

Most of those vaccines you can get a titers immunity test done- you will either need a record you had the shot when you were young, a record of you getting the shot now, or a copy of the titers/immunity results (That's what I ended up bringing, along with proof of my recent TDap shot).

It's not so bad as you think- hang in there

[Fayeara 8]

I haven't got any vaccines done at Medisys, but they do say they it costs extra for each vaccine you need to get.

[NikLR 13,220]

Yes if you get the vaccines done at the clinic, no matter which panel physician you go to, they charge extra.

That's why I am saying if your doctor is being a dork, go to a walk in clinic, explain that you need to prove your immunity to Mumps, Measles, and Rubella as well as Varicella (chicken pox) for immigration. They can make a sheet and you can get the blood work done.

You only need mumps, measles, rubella, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and influenza if it's flu season. The rest are not required for ages 18-64. I have a photocopy of my vaccination document worksheet and most everything is checked off as being "Not Age Appropriate" and I even took proof of my Hep B immunity. It wasn't needed.

[kitchen_princess 1]

Great, thank you all so much for your answers. This was very helpful!