Vaccines for Medical Exam

[djbenitez 8]

I feel like I am getting mixed messages with the medical exams and vaccinations, and I do not trust the doctor we chose. (He wrote everything that was we were expected to bring, then specifically wrote, 'Don't forget that the embassy does not accept vaccinations from other doctors.' I have not read that anywhere nor see any reason that is not motivated by being able to charge the person more???)

So it says on the NVC page:

The following vaccinations are required for immigration purposes:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza
• Influenza type b (Hib)
• Measles
• Meningococcal
• Mumps
• Pneumococcal
• Pertussis
• Polio
• Rotavirus
• Rubella
• Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids
• Varicella

I am being told by other members that many of those are recommended, but not required.

What was your guys' experience with the medical appointment? How much did you end up spending total?

Particularly if you were in Colombia, what doctor did you use, and were they trust-worthy?

[mallafri76 1,012]

The embassy do accept vaccinations from other doctors. Most of the vaccinations are given when someone is a kid, so of course they're valid. That doctor's just trying to make more money.

When I went for my medical, I had to show vaccination or immunity against:

MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)

TD (Tetanus and Diptheria)

Varicella

Since I didn't have vaccination record of TD, only of the booster I took a few years ago, that doctor insisted I'd take a blood test to show immunity. That was purely to make money for the clinic.

They also took a blood test to check for syphilis which is a standard plus x-ray the lungs for Tuberculosis.

Ignore the vaccinations stated on NVC's website, it's old. Below is a link that shows exactly what vaccinations are needed, depending on age. It's from CDC's website:

http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/panel/vaccination-panel-technical-instructions.html#prevention

Edited July 20, 2015 by mallafri76