Wife has no vaccination records

[Maitremathieu 8]

My wife just got her interview appointment date in Bogota and is now scheduling the medical exams. Unfortunately other than COVID and Yellow Fever, she doesn't have any records of her childhood vaccinations. She believes she received them as a child, but never had a vaccination card. I'm understanding she'll need to receive them from the doctor completing the medical examination. Has anybody else been in this situation, and did it cause any delays? I'm concerned that with timelines of some vaccinations, boosters, etc, it may not be complete prior to her visa interview on September 3. I'm hoping that I'm worrying unnecessarily. 

[S2N 316]

My suggestion is to get them done before going to the medical — the consulate doctors in many countries are notorious for up charging on vaccines vs. the public clinic. If you do it before they should be fine. Many people do it day of at the doctor for an overpriced fee. That’s the worst case.

 

Based on my quick read of the local Bogotá government website (Spanish language) women aged 18-49 get all vaccines free at government sponsored vaccination stations. She can do this before the exam.

Edited Saturday at 08:12 PM by S2N

[Boiler 47,479]

As well as being cheaper, mine were also free, it is just simpler going to a Medical with everything done.

[Maitremathieu 8]

Makes sense, but has anybody had issues with their vaccinations being rejected because they weren't the right kind or must up to date, etc? That's one of the reasons I was thinking it may be best to stick with the embassy doctor, for total peace of mind even if they are more expensive.

[Boiler 47,479]

No, the Doctor who carries out the Medical is local and will know what the documentation looks like.

[Maitremathieu 8]

That's great to know! This sounds like the best plan - for her to get the vaccinations locally before the medical exam, then if in the worst case scenario anything is missing she can get them during the medical exam.

[S2N 316]

Correct, the worst case is they charge you $200 for something that would otherwise be free and approve you.

Edited Saturday at 08:45 PM by S2N

[MMRF 44]

Idk about in Columbia but there are blood tests to determine if you're already vaccinated. 

[Ontarkie 14,947]

She can get a titer test done. This will show if she has any antibodies left from her childhood vaccines. If she has chicken pox as a child she just needs to tell them roughly how old she was. They take your word for it as just about everyone once a pond a time got it.

[OldUser 9,920]

5 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

She can get a titer test done. This will show if she has any antibodies left from her childhood vaccines. If she has chicken pox as a child she just needs to tell them roughly how old she was. They take your word for it as just about everyone once a pond a time got it.

For certain vaccinations, it's safe and cheaper to get another jab VS do the antibodies test. I didn't have some records and got vaccines again instead of testing...

[S2N 316]

4 minutes ago, OldUser said:

For certain vaccinations, it's safe and cheaper to get another jab VS do the antibodies test. I didn't have some records and got vaccines again instead of testing...

And sometimes the tests are inconclusive and require getting revaxxed anyway. Since Colombia has it all for free, I’d just get the shots if it was me. All a personal choice, though.

[Ontarkie 14,947]

14 minutes ago, OldUser said:

For certain vaccinations, it's safe and cheaper to get another jab VS do the antibodies test. I didn't have some records and got vaccines again instead of testing...

I'm not one who likes to get vaccines if I don't need them. I'd do the test

[JD2 130]

I think you will only have to do the first dose of any series.  Your spouse can finish the series after they arrive in the USA.  That's how my spouse's was.  After arriving in the US, I took her to the local Health Dept. and they completed the series (no one really checks if you finish but you should).

[TiffAndMike 106]

My husband didn't have any record of his childhood vaccines so he just went to a private doctor and started getting the required vaccines as soon as we started the process. He will have to get the titer test done for the polio vaccine as the DR wasn't comfortable giving that one to him in case he had already recieved it. All of his vaccines were a one dose except for the Hepatitis one, that was a 3 dose vaccine. 

 

Not to be judgmental but why did your wife waited until right before her medical exam and interview to worry about the vaccines? 

[Maitremathieu 8]

Thanks all for the advice! I realize the key here is that only the first dose is required. My fear was her not being able to complete the full vaccination series before the visa interview, but it sounds like that won't be an issue.