vaccinations for people moving from canada to the US

[housewife 1]

Hi,

Ok, I'm starting a new topic on this as I think it is important. Learn something more everyday.

My husband is 60 years old and a canadian born citizen.

I am wondering what vaccines he will need.

I went to the website it says a doctor will tell you what you need.

Someone mentioned vaccinations, but I am going to assume that not everyone needs the same as for some depending on age, like rubella, measles, etc?

And if he does need them, can he just get them at the medical place and be done with it?? What if he had them and can't find the papers that he had them.

I had them done in the USA when I was born, there were no records kept. The doctor who gave them to me was 50 already so he is dead, they were never filed, does that mean you have to get them all over?

His parents are dead he doens't know if he had them or not and there were no records kept like now???

Help please

[Kittyfang 6]

These are 2009's vaccine requirements, but I believe they apply for 2010 as well (scroll down to p. 12 for a chart).

I didn't have a vaccination record either, so what I did is go down that list, check what I needed and went to my doctor and requested an MMR titer (as well as T.B. test and RPR test while I was at it since they are also both required).

For someone who is 60 years old, they will need, according to the CDC list, a Tdap shot (Tetanus, Pertussis, Diphtheria, mine cost around $45 at my local health dept.), Influenza and Varicella.

One note about Varicella. I have been told by most nurses I spoke to that the civil surgeon will sometimes just ask you if you've had Varicella. They will not always required paperwork and will take your word for it. Now, this applies to the CS's nurse I spoke with.

*edited because of a typo

Edited August 5, 2010 by Kittyfang

[housewife 1]

My hubby had a tetnus booster in '06 in the US so I just called for a copy.

The rest he will have to get and he can get it at the private clinic I guess where he will get his medical. They do travel vaccines etc.

Acutally he is 61 he just turned 61 recently.

Thank you I really appreciate this.

[housewife 1]

I am going to assume the private IMM doctor will do the RPR and tuberculosis test as that is the private clinic the IMM here recommends.

Simmilar to what I had when I came to canada.

I am going to assume that they will also give him the flu shot if it's availalbe and any the varicella if he needs.

At his age it's probably a shingles shot rather than chickenpox?

[Hendea3 4]

I just went to the medical and although I am not 61 (actually 26) I did not have a TB test and the Dr. cleared me adn said I was good to go, they would only require further TB tests if my chest xray showed possible TB signs.

For my chickenpox (Varicella), all he asked for was a verbal. The titers for Measles, mups etc. should be free (in Can.) and can be done by any walkin clinic that takes blood tests. If you wait till the medical your approval will be delayed until you get teh shots/proof etc. The Dr. in Toronto HIGHLY suggests that you have all vaccines adn proof with you at teh time of your medical.

I didn't check the age limits etc. but for me Hep A & B shots were required. All 3 shots (twinrix) do not have to be completed (as it is a six month process)prior to the medical but as long as he has the 1st shot before the medical then it will be fine and accepted.

[Carol & James 0]

I'm not certain if it depends on where you get your medical done, but I'll be getting mine done in Vancouver (there is only one place) and this is the vaccination list that was given to me with my Packet 3: http://wokingmedical.com/Vaccinations.html. The only troubles I've run into so far is ensuring that I'm getting the TDAP shot and not just a tetanus booster shot. I had to call around to a few places as the first couple insisted that Canada does not provide TDAP to people over the age of 7. I eventually called a travel clinic and it was not a problem with them at all.

The place where I'll be getting my medical done insists that you have to have all your vaccinations in place before arriving for the medical as they do not provide vaccinations. Your visa issuance will be put on hold until you can provide proof that you have the required vaccinations.

You may want have your husband try calling his province's health service to see if there's a records department that has kept track of his vaccinations. I live in Alberta and they have my immunization records on file and sent them to me (took about 2 weeks). The only caveat is that they'll only have a record of the vaccines I received in my city but otherwise it didn't matter if I received the shots at a clinic or at school, they have a record of it all.

Hope that helps.

[housewife 1]

Wow, thank you. Ok,

Well I know the place that he will get his medical, Medisys in Montreal, has a travel clinic, so Twinrex he can get.

According to the list, he only needs a varicella (chickenpox and the TD)

I'm getting a copy from the US for his tentus boost that he had 6 years ago in the US that is a 10 year shot.

I am confused why it would take so long to get them???

According to the website, at my hubby's age, the other vacines like mumps measles etc are not required at his age.

He only needs varcilla and the TP and I'm going to call and see if they will give them to him there if he needs them. I actually have to go there today to pick up a copy of a test I had done there (not for immigration) it's a private place but that is the approved immigration place in Montreal have to go there for his medical

[Hendea3 4]

The rules have changed and Tetanus/Diptheria (TDap) need to be within 5 years not 10. The walkin clinic here in Mississauga gave me the TDap booster shot, I believe its the original shot (ie not teh booster) that isn't given after 7 years...but I could be mistaken. If you know you had your original Tetanus/Diptheria shot as a kid then you just need the TDap booster...if you are not sure then I'm not too sure...I actualyl got my Twinrix at Medysis, they are friendly and not too expensive $30 for the nurse to ask questions and administer and i think 70$ for the shot. Just let them know that its for immigration adn not for travel (even though you will be travelling to US).

I had lost my immunization booklet and the Region of Peel (in Ontario) was able to mail me a new one with everything they had on file (basically all my baby/early childhood shots). Depending on where he was born, they may have soemthing on file for him that he may not even know.

[housewife 1]

The rules have changed and Tetanus/Diptheria (TDap) need to be within 5 years not 10. The walkin clinic here in Mississauga gave me the TDap booster shot, I believe its the original shot (ie not teh booster) that isn't given after 7 years...but I could be mistaken. If you know you had your original Tetanus/Diptheria shot as a kid then you just need the TDap booster...if you are not sure then I'm not too sure...I actualyl got my Twinrix at Medysis, they are friendly and not too expensive $30 for the nurse to ask questions and administer and i think 70$ for the shot. Just let them know that its for immigration adn not for travel (even though you will be travelling to US).

I had lost my immunization booklet and the Region of Peel (in Ontario) was able to mail me a new one with everything they had on file (basically all my baby/early childhood shots). Depending on where he was born, they may have soemthing on file for him that he may not even know.

Wow, ok, I guess that is not good, but I hope he will get all he needs. I'd rather pay and get it done quickly who know how long the Montreal/Quebec takes. I don't even know where to start looking.

I asked Medisys and they said they can give him the shots right there.