When to get Vaccination Records

[LauraDP 10]

My husband (the USC) intends to submit I-130 petitions to the London Embassy for myself and our four sons early next month. I understand that a likely timescale for DCF in London would mean that we might be scheduled for our medicals around February time.

When would you advise that the children and I obtain our vaccination records from our local medical surgery? Do they have to have been compiled in a specific time period? Neither the children or I are due any shots in the forseeable future so nothing should change on our records(unless my youngest is called for his MMR booster in the New Year). My husband and I are trying to do as much groundwork and preparation regarding our records and paperwork as possible so that the process stays on track once we initiate it but I wonder if it would be premature to request the records now? Are UK doctors usually pretty quick in fulfilling such requests? I guess I don't want to risk getting them too early in case something does change or in case they are regarded as "expired" for the purposes of the medical but nor do I want to leave it until we are actually scheduling our medicals to request the records in case there is any delay?

Can you tell that I am one of life's over-planners?

Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

Best wishes

Laura

[cathy2904 97]

The records will not be time sensitive so you can get them any time. My GP's receptionist printed mine off while I waited. I was amazed how far back they went - over 50 years!

[LauraDP 10]

The records will not be time sensitive so you can get them any time. My GP's receptionist printed mine off while I waited. I was amazed how far back they went - over 50 years!

Thanks so much for your prompt and succinct reply, Cathy. That is good to know that they are not "time sensitive" (that was the phrase I just couldn't quite call to mind in my original post) and also that they can usually print them off pretty quickly. My GP's surgery is all into whizz-bang technology so hopefully it is an easy job for them to print them all off.

One thing I am wondering, however, is about tetanus shots. It just dawned on me that my oldest will be ten by the time we plan to emigrate so his tetanus shot will be about ten years old and so will mine (as we were done at the same time). Do they need evidence of tetanus shots having been given in every ten year period? I will need to investigate that.

Cheers!

Laura

[Holly2234 66]

You can get them any time. They wont change unless you need any more vaccinations.

When you go to the GP's to get the records, just ask if anybody is due for a tetanus. If you are, get it done and get the records afterwards. Also, if you are going to have your medical during flu season, October to March i think, you will need a flu shot too so that might be something that will get added later.

[cathy2904 97]

Holly is right about getting tetanus boosters if they are needed, but they won't be interested in whether or not you have had continuous coverage as long as it is current.

I had to have MMR because I am too old to have had it as a child. I had it done at my GP's practice and they didn't charge me.

[Holly2234 66]

It also might be worth making an appointment with the nurse straight away and cut out the middle men. The receptionists often charge for records and vaccinations for going abroad (its different i know, but try explaining that to them!). The nurse can give vaccinations there and then and also print your records, usually for free. The GP will usually just pass you on to a nurse anyway.

[LauraDP 10]

You can get them any time. They wont change unless you need any more vaccinations.

When you go to the GP's to get the records, just ask if anybody is due for a tetanus. If you are, get it done and get the records afterwards. Also, if you are going to have your medical during flu season, October to March i think, you will need a flu shot too so that might be something that will get added later.

Thanks, Holly. Our GPs here don't offer flu vaccinations unless you are part of a vulnerable group, which none of us are. Does this mean I will have to get the flu vaccine done privately?

[LauraDP 10]

Holly is right about getting tetanus boosters if they are needed, but they won't be interested in whether or not you have had continuous coverage as long as it is current.

I had to have MMR because I am too old to have had it as a child. I had it done at my GP's practice and they didn't charge me.

Thanks, Cathy2904. I have not had the MMR either for the same reason. Am I required to have that? I have had the individual rubella vaccine and I have had both measles and mumps as a teenager.

[LauraDP 10]

It also might be worth making an appointment with the nurse straight away and cut out the middle men. The receptionists often charge for records and vaccinations for going abroad (its different i know, but try explaining that to them!). The nurse can give vaccinations there and then and also print your records, usually for free. The GP will usually just pass you on to a nurse anyway.

Thanks, Holly. I think that is exactly what I will do. I will arrange an appointment for the kids and I to go to a nurse clinic and get all of our shots up to date and tickety-boo. I don't want to be caught out. Somewhere I remember seeing the list of what was required to be covered at the Medical. I think maybe the link was on the page for the London Embassy. I remember there was some kind of table that looked confusing about who needed what at what age. I guess I need to figure that out and present it to the nurse at the appointment.

Thanks once again for your helpful and informative replies.

Cheers

Laura

[LauraDP 10]

Ach! I can't find out how to edit my post. Sorry. Anyway, I found the vaccination list and am just pasting it in here for ease of locating it later:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/39181/pdfs/vaccinechart.pdf

I assume it might be a good idea to print this out in advance and give it to the nurse ahead of our appointments so they can ensure they have the correct vaccines in stock for the kids and me. I think I am going to have to print this out and figure out which of the five of us needs what.

Best wishes

Laura

[Holly2234 66]

Oh yeah i forgot theyre different for certain ages! Your children will likely need quite a few more than what you do. The nurse will be able to figure it out though. You can get the flu one done at a lot of chemists when the time comes. My local Tesco does them too so that could be an option if theres one near you.

[cathy2904 97]

Thanks, Cathy2904. I have not had the MMR either for the same reason. Am I required to have that? I have had the individual rubella vaccine and I have had both measles and mumps as a teenager.

You have probably found the answer to this by now but yes, you will have to have MMR. As you probably know from when your children were given it, it is given in two doses four weeks apart. Apart from that I just had boosters for diptheria, tetanus and pertussis. I didn't need flu but, as Holly says, there are plenty of places you can get it in the autumn and it's not too expensive. Your own GP might give it to you on request if you are willing to pay.

Remember that the chicken pox (varicella) vaccine is not available in the UK so if you tell them you have had chicken pox they will tick that one off.

[JoannaV 174]

The alternative to the MMR is to get blood titres showing that you have immunity to measles mumps and rubella, but of course it is easier to just get the shot.

[LauraDP 10]

You have probably found the answer to this by now but yes, you will have to have MMR. As you probably know from when your children were given it, it is given in two doses four weeks apart. Apart from that I just had boosters for diptheria, tetanus and pertussis. I didn't need flu but, as Holly says, there are plenty of places you can get it in the autumn and it's not too expensive. Your own GP might give it to you on request if you are willing to pay.

Remember that the chicken pox (varicella) vaccine is not available in the UK so if you tell them you have had chicken pox they will tick that one off.

Myself and the kids have all had chicken pox so that won't be a problem.

I have arranged for us to have an appointment with the nurse on Friday afternoon. They are fitting us in after normal hours because it could be a bit of a marathon. I handed in the list of vaccination requirements so that they can prepare as much as possible and figure out what each of the five of us needs. I also handed in a covering letter asking them not to mention the reason for the shots during the appointment as the kids do not know about our planned emigration yet so fingers crossed they abide by that request.

The kids have all had the MMR. I think my 3 year old might need the preschool MMR booster and I need the MMR because I am too old to have received it. I think myself and my eldest need the tetanus shots. I am a bit confused about the flu ones so I need to figure out who needs that and will willingly pay for it if needs be. We live in the rural Highlands so there is not an opportunity for me to get it elsewhere. Basically I know which shots the kids have all had but I am a bit rusty on what I have had and am still covered by since it was a long time since I had a vaccination other than tetanus.

[JoannaV 174]

I need the MMR because I am too old to have received it.

Oh this is the other thing. Everyone is required to have had TWO MMR shots. (Unless they are too young.) Your GP may not consider this medically necessary for you (because it's not!). So if you want to avoid having two shots (whether both from your GP or one from GP and then having to pay for the second one at the medical) you should get the first MMR from your GP less than a month before the medical. This way you won't have to get the second shot. Your GP practice sounds pretty helpful so it shouldn't be much trouble to go in once you know your medical date and quickly get the MMR and proof of getting it.