Flu Shot for Interview in October

[VeeNDee 44]

So reading the drcheema.ca website for the Vancouver medical, for vaccines one of the comments says:

"Influenza (only required during October - February, annually)"

I was hoping to schedule my medical for early October, but when I phoned public health to ask when the flu shot would be available they told me probably not till the end of October but that no one really knows exactly when it will be available yet. Will it be a problem if I have my medical in October without having had the flu shot? I don't know if I have a choice if it's not even available yet, other than waiting till the end of October but that just seems silly - I'm assuming they will make an exception to the October requirement. Any experience from last year?

[at long last 58]

So reading the drcheema.ca website for the Vancouver medical, for vaccines one of the comments says:

"Influenza (only required during October - February, annually)"

I was hoping to schedule my medical for early October, but when I phoned public health to ask when the flu shot would be available they told me probably not till the end of October but that no one really knows exactly when it will be available yet. Will it be a problem if I have my medical in October without having had the flu shot? I don't know if I have a choice if it's not even available yet, other than waiting till the end of October but that just seems silly - I'm assuming they will make an exception to the October requirement. Any experience from last year?

I have been phoning everywhere here around south on Vancouver Island and no one will really have the vaccine for 6he the fu shots until possibly the beginning of Oct but most said not until closer to the end of Oct. one pharmacy said perhaps they would order it. But if it is not available then we just have to tell them.

good luck

Terri

[VeeNDee 44]

I was reading up on AOS and ran into this post on VJ:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/335754-ds-3025-complete-or-not/page__p__4971318#entry4971318

I know it's from the UK so maybe take it with a grain of salt but I assume that AOS applies similarly regardless of the country you had your original medical exam in. It says:

**Note on flu shot: Flu shots are required for adults of all ages (changed Nov 2010) if your UK exam was between (Oct 1 and March 31). But if the AOS adjudicator picks up your case when it is not flu season, you will be excused. And the reverse is true. The adjudicator picks up your case during flu season, but sees it was NOT flu season when you had your medical exam, you are also excused because the date they go by is the date of your exam to determine if you were current on that date. Keep in mind that if you go to a civil surgeon for an I-693, then you are resetting the medical exam date for immunizations and you may have to get second doses of shots or a flu shot to become current on your new immunization date of record.

So does that mean if I don't/can't get the flu shot in October, I can still get passed but will need to update my shots when I adjust status later? Aghhh I don't want to have problems with AOS and have to pay more fees for a civil surgeon!!!! But I don't want to wait till the end of October either! What to do?

[JnJ13 13]

You should email Dr. Cheema's office. They were very helpful because I also had a few questions before my appointment. They probably know best

Edited September 6, 2012 by JnJ13

[VeeNDee 44]

You should email Dr. Cheema's office. They were very helpful because I also had a few questions before my appointment. They probably know best

Ooo good idea. Thankful that VJ has a stock of geniuses on the forums so I can pick their brains

[VeeNDee 44]

Update: So I emailed Dr. Cheema with my question and they finally responded.

My original email:

To whom it may concern,

My fiance and I have a pending K1 visa application with the USA government and will be needing to schedule a medical in the future. We had a question regarding flu shots before we do that.

The guidelines on your website say that if you have a medical exam between October - February the applicant needs to have the flu shot. However I have been phoning around and no one seems to have the flu shot available and are estimating it won't be available till late October. Do you make an exception for the October flu shot requirement if it is not available to obtain in British Columbia at the time of the appointment?

Thank you very much for your help!

Took them 5 days to answer me. Their response was:

Hi,

You can get it from your pharmacist, they usually get the shots earlier.

As you can see it was a long and detailed reply that thoroughly answered my question. However figured I'd pass the info on anyway. Going to try to get my medical done in September to avoid the issue. Apparently you can get the flu shot in Washington state already so if that qualifies I may just do that if I can't get a medical till October and it's still not available.

[Rob & Monika 87]

The walmarts here in NY have booths setup for flushots, perhaps they have them where you are as well.

[VeeNDee 44]

So I called my pharmacist and they said "Yeah we won't have the flu shot available till late October" - Surprise! That's what I told Dr. Cheema's office (grumble). My pharmacist said the flu shot in WA is usually almost the same so it should be ok to get but I'd just have to pay for it.

Still hoping to have my appointment before October if Dr. Cheema will ever answer my appointment request email and/or phone call!

You know... they really need an emoticon that is drumming its fingers on the table, waiting.