HPV vaccine question

[Izoom 0]

That's been a thorn in my side throughout this process BermyCat. Its as though each consulate received the same handbook from the

State department and has decided to each follow it according to their own personal interpretation. Like I said before, a blanket rulebook

wouldn't work due to some circumstances in some countries, but this widely varying discrepancies between consulates just doesn't make

sense.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Southern_Canadian - I'm wondering about the TB skin test too. I think it was just made mandatory as well, but wasn't previously. I read it on a USCIS page, but I can't find where I originally read it.

From looking at your timeline, I take it what you haven't had your medical yet?? If that is the case.. then you will need your TB skin test. (I believe it became mandatory in July?) I did it here in Georgia and it was only $20.. but I had to call around to find a good price. If you didn't get it done when you were younger, I'd say get it in Canada and save yourself some money.

This is where I got my answers from a helpful VJ friend..

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry2205190

Thank you!! That's what I thought.. that it became mandatory in July. Ugh, I'll talk to my Dr. about getting it. I'd actually much rather get the Gardisil shot, then do a TB skin test! They scare me a little.

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Southern_Canadian - I'm wondering about the TB skin test too. I think it was just made mandatory as well, but wasn't previously. I read it on a USCIS page, but I can't find where I originally read it.

From looking at your timeline, I take it what you haven't had your medical yet?? If that is the case.. then you will need your TB skin test. (I believe it became mandatory in July?) I did it here in Georgia and it was only $20.. but I had to call around to find a good price. If you didn't get it done when you were younger, I'd say get it in Canada and save yourself some money.

This is where I got my answers from a helpful VJ friend..

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry2205190

Thank you!! That's what I thought.. that it became mandatory in July. Ugh, I'll talk to my Dr. about getting it. I'd actually much rather get the Gardisil shot, then do a TB skin test! They scare me a little.

Honestly.. the HPV shot hurts!!! I still have a bruise around the area that I got mine.. almost two weeks ago! :-(

I was worried about getting the TB skin test.. but it was nothing!! They put the needle in for what feels like a second or two then they take it out. A little bump appears where the needle was injected and then it goes away within 5-10 minutes. That's it.. then you go back in 76 hours to get your results!

You'll be fine

[Flames9_RN 358]

Ya the PPD is intradermally injected, so just under the skin, barely even feel it!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantoux_test

[SapphireDreams 71]

Thanks guys!! That makes me feel a bit better about it. The way my friend was explaining it to me made it sounds like your skin made a huge bubble or something.

Okay so now I'm back to being scared abotu teh Gardisil shot hurting like a ######. I've been putting off going to get it because I just can't afford to have a sore arm at work!! Haha. That's it, I'm going to go next week and just get my first one so that I can get all three before I leave Canada. What a pain.

I'm kind of waiting until I get my NOA2 so that things feel a bit more official and I feel more pressure to get it done! I'm sucha procrastinator!

[Reba 2]

I think in Canada the Montreal and Vancouver consulates require vaccinations be completed before you go to the US because they know they're all covered by provincial healthcare, and they're actually doing us a favour by saving us some money really. And considering that until they included the Gardasil and TB tests as mandatory, most Canadians didn't need to have any vaccinations for the medical, because we'd had to have them for school already anyhow.

[Galateia 1]

I think in Canada the Montreal and Vancouver consulates require vaccinations be completed before you go to the US because they know they're all covered by provincial healthcare, and they're actually doing us a favour by saving us some money really. And considering that until they included the Gardasil and TB tests as mandatory, most Canadians didn't need to have any vaccinations for the medical, because we'd had to have them for school already anyhow.

That would make sense for vaccines in general. Gardasil isn't covered by our healthcare, though. Or it wasn't when I went for my medical this year.

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Thanks guys!! That makes me feel a bit better about it. The way my friend was explaining it to me made it sounds like your skin made a huge bubble or something.

Okay so now I'm back to being scared abotu teh Gardisil shot hurting like a ######. I've been putting off going to get it because I just can't afford to have a sore arm at work!! Haha. That's it, I'm going to go next week and just get my first one so that I can get all three before I leave Canada. What a pain.

I'm kind of waiting until I get my NOA2 so that things feel a bit more official and I feel more pressure to get it done! I'm sucha procrastinator!

You'll be fine.. just make sure that they give you a sucker afterwards. LOL!! If you want to get all 3 while you are in Canada, then you should get your first one now then second one in two months then third one in four months from then. It's a long process. Oh and get the shot in the arm that you don't use as much...

[Sarah in Toronto 0]

Hi All, I don't post on here very much but I do enjoy reading about everyone's experience. I too have had a very hard time with the new Gardasil vaccine requirement and may have some helpful information for everyone.

I just came home to Toronto from my interview at the Montreal consulate. I had my medical on the 14th of October I am 25 and was told that I would have to have the Gardasil vaccination. I came armed to my medical with a letter from my family doctor stating that he competely disagreed with me taking the vaccine. Regardless of this they wrote down that I declined the vaccine, they did tell me there though that they would include my letter from my doctor with my medical and said the decision would be made in Montreal.

So we went to the interview quite hopeful, but sadly the outcome was not great.

The consular in Montreal said he totally understood and respected my decision but by law he was bound to temporarily deny my visa over the vaccine issue. He gave my 4 options and stated this, I am approved on every level other than this vaccine issue, he gave me the choice to A) go to the panel physician right in Montreal and get the firs dose of the vaccine and they would release the visa the next day B) go home to Toronto, think about it go back to my panel physician have the shot and have the panel physician fax the record to Montreal and they would then mail my visa C) pay 545 USD to apply for a waiver based on moral/religious convictions D) wait to move until I turn 27

We have chosen the route of the waiver as the consular said that he hasn't ever seen a vaccination waiver denied and that I would be approved for the waiver.

To be honest at this point I am just seriously disturbed by the injustice of this situation.. hellooo HPV is not a communicable disease!!! I would fight it right now all the way to court based on the principal of the issue.

To answer a couple of questions....

1. You only need the first shot to get the visa (I do not know if you have to follow up or not)

2. A Doctor's note will not get you out of it

Hope this helps to explain.

Sarah

[MrsCat 6]

Whoa Sarah - that sucks. Good for you for sticking to your convictions and filing for the waiver. You're a strong woman!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Sucks that you had to go through all that. HPV can be sexually transmitted to other people!!! Guys can have it as well and pass it to their partners. At this time there is no test for men or a vaccine, but I believe it is in the works.

Thanks for passing along the info, I'm sure many will appreciate it. Did you ask how long the waiver will take? Some waivers can take a long time, some have waited over a year

Edited October 31, 2008 by flames9

[Sarah in Toronto 0]

Sucks that you had to go through all that. HPV can be sexually transmitted to other people!!! Guys can have it as well and pass it to their partners. At this time there is no test for men or a vaccine, but I believe it is in the works.

Thanks for passing along the info, I'm sure many will appreciate it. Did you ask how long the waiver will take? Some waivers can take a long time, some have waited over a year

The consular told us that my waiver should take 3-4 months, which is one of the reasons we decided to go with that option, we thought to ourselves, in the grand scheme of things 3 months is not that long. He told us we would have the visa by march if we went that route.

I will keep everyone updated with how it goes for future reference.

thx. S

[Flames9_RN 358]

Lets hope they are correct with their time frame. best of luck

[to_hope 0]

Thanks for the information Sarah. I thought about getting the waiver but decided against it since our finances are so tight right now-- turns out though that I paid $170 for the first shot.... by the time I am done it will be almost as much as the waiver! Worth considering for other folks.

[Sarah in Toronto 0]

Thanks for the information Sarah. I thought about getting the waiver but decided against it since our finances are so tight right now-- turns out though that I paid $170 for the first shot.... by the time I am done it will be almost as much as the waiver! Worth considering for other folks.

Yes it almost equals out to be the same amount of money after you take all 3 shots. This is one of the reasons we also chose the waiver....I would rather spend the money fighting something I disagree with : ) I did seriously consider the shot as well, especially when they have my visa sitting right there telling me I only have to get the shot...ahhh something does not sit well with me about the situation though.

At least now that you have it you know you will get your visa and that is reassuring, it lifts a lot of stress off of you guys.

Hope everything goes smoothly from here on out!