Vaccinations

[jken 2]

Hello Everyone-

i am not able to locate any childhood records of vaccinations. Family Doctor only kept them for 10 years and public health from schools, the same. So do I need to have my family g.p., give them to me or do i have to wait to have my medical done and have them in Montreal give them to me? So confusing!

Good Luck to everyone...Stay strong and everyday brings us a day closer....

[TBoneTX 44,672]

Vaccinations are not required in order to be issued a K-1 visa, but it's almost always a good idea to get as many as you can (or certainly the records thereof) in one's home country -- it's typically cheaper, and you can do it at your comparative leisure.

1. See if the family doctor can reconstruct the records (being honest about it) of vaccinations, and of your childhood illnesses that would confer later immunity (chickenpox is an example).

2. Get at least two copies of a comprehensive typed statement of those vaccinations & relevant childhood illnesses -- on letterhead with original signature and/or stamp -- from his office. Keep these very safe, and avoid misplacing them -- you'll need one copy for AOS and one copy for yourself.

3. Get any necessary booster-shots from him -- tetanus and MMR are the two that come to mind. Be sure that these are on the statement in (2.).

Most doctors & clinics are reluctant to give someone more than two inoculations during one visit, so get multiple shots over a time period and (to a lesser extent?) at a cost that's under your control, and from a clinician whom you trust. Waiting to get these at the official medical appointment is unwise; it's a hectic time with a lot of paperwork flying through the air, and procuring copies of records can be piecemeal at best or overlooked at worst.

As an unrelated suggestion, when you are issued your visa but before you leave for the U.S., renew your driver's license (or, if you don't drive yet, make it a priority to get your first license). The freedom of being able to drive in the U.S. during those first few months of boredom cannot be underestimated.

Edited January 19, 2010 by TBoneTX

[lilacvioletiris 11]

Where is the list of the required vaccinations?

[Wis-Can 0]

If you can't get your vaccination records your family doctor can do titer tests to check and see what you already have been immunized against. I had to do it. Read the guides above to help you along. I got as many of the vacc. as I needed so that I didn't have to pay for them down here. My family doctor gave them to me. I only ended up needing one, and I had an elective one that I paid for when I had my vacc supplement transcribed. Here is the link for the vacc requirements.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/civil_sur...nstructions.pdf

[lilacvioletiris 11]

That is perfect. I can get my fiance' to get his vaccination records and vaccines that require time between like Hepatitis A an B while he still has his Ontario health coverage.

[lilacvioletiris 11]

This link might be useful too so an immigrant can make sure they have time to get all the vaccinations before they leave their country of origin

http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2011.pdf

[Krikit 1,163]

Vaccinations are not required in order to be issued a K-1 visa, but it's almost always a good idea to get as many as you can (or certainly the records thereof) in one's home country -- it's typically cheaper, and you can do it at your comparative leisure.

In Canada the vaccinations are a requirement for the visa. No vaccinations, no visa.

I am from a country other than Canada so did not have a vaccination record. What I did was go to my GP in Canada, along with the list of required vaccinations. He noted the vaccines I would have received based on his knowledge of my originating country. Then he gave me some booster shots and noted those also. He wrote it all down on his prescription pad. I took that with me to my medical and they accepted it. Your GP should be able to recreate the vaccines given based on the required timelines mandated by the Department of Health.

[jken 2]

In Canada the vaccinations are a requirement for the visa. No vaccinations, no visa.

I am from a country other than Canada so did not have a vaccination record. What I did was go to my GP in Canada, along with the list of required vaccinations. He noted the vaccines I would have received based on his knowledge of my originating country. Then he gave me some booster shots and noted those also. He wrote it all down on his prescription pad. I took that with me to my medical and they accepted it. Your GP should be able to recreate the vaccines given based on the required timelines mandated by the Department of Health.

Thanks all very much!