RCMP and medical in Edmonton

[SonoranSongbird 3]

Okay, first of all, the medical. My fiance needs to get the three vaccines (chicken pox, MMR, and tetanus). I am pretty sure tetanus is just a single shot (because I had to get that one when I went to Peru) but I don't know anything about the other two. It's actually news to me that there even IS a chicken pox vaccine! Anyway, my question is this: can Dr. Chana just give him the vaccines the day he goes for the appointment, or does he need to get them in advance? Do the chicken pox and MMR vaccines require a series of booster shots or is it just one like the tetnus shot? (He had chicken pox and measles as a child but can't document that, he knows he is overdue for a tetanus booster, and he does not know whether he got the MMR.)

One more question about Dr. Chana: how long does it take to get the results after the appointment? And how long of a wait will it be to get the appointment?

Now the RCMP: a few people mentioned one in Sherwood Park in another thread. I have no idea what or where that is, but he said it is a few miles from him and he's going to go there. How long does it take them to order it? He has no arrest record.

(Okay, I'm going to breathe now....)

[Earmuffs 1]

took me about 3 weeks to get in for an appointment.. bout a week for the results.. even thought they never called me to say they were done... I think fo rthe shots you have to go to the health department before you see him.. chicken pox is 2 shots i believe about 6 weeks apart.. not sure though.. Im pretty sure you can get away with just the first one..

[SonoranSongbird 3]

Thanks, Earmuffs!

Would the Health Department have records of it if he had the MMR as a baby? He still needs the chicken pox and tetanus shots, but it's worth a shot to check, I guess.

[Carlawarla 1]

Thanks, Earmuffs!

Would the Health Department have records of it if he had the MMR as a baby? He still needs the chicken pox and tetanus shots, but it's worth a shot to check, I guess.

I would suggest that given his age, and vaccination requirements for school, that he already had all his immunizations, and all he'd need is tetnus shot. He can also have a titre test done to see what he has had, and needs to get done.

As far as the Sherwood Park police clearance, I think I heard this is a fast place...maybe even while he waits? Otherwise, if that's not correct, I'm sure I read it came very quickly.

[CBR 0]

The MMR and Varicella (chicken pox) are both live vaccines & need to be given either the same day OR 30 days apart.

Chickenpox vaccine

People 13 years of age and older (who have never had

chickenpox or received chickenpox vaccine) should

get two doses at least 28 days apart

Note: Chickenpox vaccine may be given along

with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine

in a combination vaccine called MMRV<------------not sure if this is available everywhere yet. might save $$ possibly and only one stick.

MMR vaccine

Some adults should also get MMR vaccine:

Generally, anyone 18 years of age or older, who was

born after 1956, should get at least one dose of

MMR vaccine, unless they can show that they have

had either the vaccines or the diseases.

So to answer your questions about vaccines 1 booster for MMR and 2 for chickenpox.

Also as a side note:

I've done some work as a health & safety nurse and found that many many people's varicella, MMR (one part of it or another) and Hepatitis B immunities wear off over time or the shot was never effective for them in the first place (could be due to technique of the person giving the shot). We do titers on our new hires and this was something I commonly saw in their results. So getting the boosters can't hurt even if you had the disease or shot in the past.

Hope this helps

[SonoranSongbird 3]

I would suggest that given his age, and vaccination requirements for school, that he already had all his immunizations, and all he'd need is tetnus shot. He can also have a titre test done to see what he has had, and needs to get done.

That's what I thought, too, but he did get the measles as a teenager. His thinking on this is getting the boosters will give whatever antibodies he has a workout. From what CBR says, that sounds about right.

Two more questions now:

1) If he wants to get the titre test, does he get that from the Health Department as well or from his regular doctor?

2) Will he be okay on the visa if he has the 2nd chicken pox booster after the medical exam but before the interview? We don't really have our act together on the stuff we need to get together for packet 3, so this may not be an issue, but I'd like to know in case it is.

I honestly did not know chicken pox was that big a deal. When we were kids, my parents brought us around to the houses of friends who'd had it so we could get it and get it over with.

As always, thanks to everyone for your help!

[Earmuffs 1]

i had the chicken pox as a kid but when i did my I-693a for aos the doctor made me get the shot because I had no proof of having the pox..

[trailmix 77]

I would recommend that he go now and get the titre done for MMR and chicken pox.

The Health dept might have his records, depends how old he is.

The titre is 1 blood sample. He can go in to any walk in clinic and request it. My Husbands took over a week to come back. Plus, since he will have to go and pick up the result, he can make an appointment to go along with that in case he needs one of the ones mentioned above and to get his tetanus shot. The panel physician can do the tetanus, my Husband got one at his medical - they charged him $30 - it would have been $15 at the walk in clinic where he requested the titre.

The only reason he would have had to pay at all at the walk in clinic is because he told them why he needed the tetanus shot.

I don't know what the policy is in Edmonton, but here, in calling the public health department (since my Husband wasn't sure if he had had chicken pox he was going to have the shot anyway) - they would not give him one without proof (a titre) that he wasn't already immune.

Actually he didn't even include the chickenpox in the titre and he never got the shot - they never asked.

[TheATeam 0]

In terms of the titre, it was free at my doctor! I also phoned the health unit where I grew up and they were able to pull up all of my vaccination records!

In terms of the Police Report, I got mine done in Sherwood Park. It was awesome. They printed it off right there while we talked as opposed to me waiting for three to seven weeks for the city police in Edmonton to do it. The only downside was that it cost $60 instead of $30. To be honest though, my peace of mind, knowing that I had it in my hand, was worth that $30! They are on Bison Way in Sherwood Park. You can PM me and I'll send you the exact address, phone number etc if you need it! They were super quick so that was great!

I've heard that Dr. Chana will do the vaccinations if you need him to, but it will cost you. Most doctors and walk in clinics here in Alberta will do them for free! Get the vaccination record first and then go from there. Let me know if I can help any other way!

[David_n_Amber 3]

I waited about 3 weeks to get my appointment with Dr. Chana, i wrote a very long and detailed review of the medical exam in this forum, im sure it'll be helpful if you search for it. I waited about 6 business days before i got my medical back, which has to be picked up. You can call ahead to the office and ask if they can administer the shots, but they might not carry it at the office and will have to order it, you can get your shots anywhere and have a doctors note and show it to Chana as well.

[David_n_Amber 3]

Hell, i even found it for ya.. click here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=106826

I even included a picture of his "office".

As for the criminal records check, i just went to the edmonton police service station downtown and had them do a check and i got it in the mail in about 2 weeks.

[SonoranSongbird 3]

Okay, thanks, everyone. I will pass the info on to him.

I remember the thread with the picture, actually, but I wasn't expecting our NOA2 this soon when you posted it. I told him it was in a house--I remembered that much.

[MissStacey 1]

I am the one who got my Police Certificate in Sherwood Park (I lived there) It took 5 minutes. She gave me a few copies of both my Police Certificate and the criminal background check- it took a few phone calls but I finally found a person there who knew what I meant by "Police Certificate" Vancouver does want the Police Certificate- there was another woman at the Consulate when I was there and she was told the Background check was not acceptable and she needed an actual Certificate.

I initially went for a Titres test because the Strathcona Health Unit no longer had a record of my immunizations. I went to the Medicenter (walk in clinic) and asked to be sent to the Lab for a titres. It turned out I showed low immunity to a few things and ended up going back to my local health unit and getting all my shots done. I didn't pay for anything as Alberta Health Care covered it. I went to Chana's with proof of all my immunizations.

There is also debate about the receptionists at Chana's office (there are a few of us who think they are total b!tches and some who said they were as sweet as pie. I don't know- maybe they got laid since I went)

Edited March 7, 2008 by MissStacey

[TheATeam 0]

In Sherwood Park they gave me a Police Certificate that said it was specifically for Visas and Foreign Travel. I also was given a copy of my background check too!