When to get Vaccination Records

[LauraDP 10]

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.

Thanks for that advice, Joanna. I will mention this to the nurse tomorrow afternoon. It won't be a problem for me to schedule my shots for a different date. I just wanted to get all the kids done before they go back to school as it makes appointments easier. Perhaps by getting the first shot so early I will have time to get the second shot before my medical still, depending on how long you have to wait between the MMR shots. I don't suppose it makes a jot of difference that I am already immunised against rubella and have had mumps and measles?

[JoannaV 174]

Thanks for that advice, Joanna. I will mention this to the nurse tomorrow afternoon. It won't be a problem for me to schedule my shots for a different date. I just wanted to get all the kids done before they go back to school as it makes appointments easier. Perhaps by getting the first shot so early I will have time to get the second shot before my medical still, depending on how long you have to wait between the MMR shots. I don't suppose it makes a jot of difference that I am already immunised against rubella and have had mumps and measles?

If you did blood titres showing you were immune to all three you wouldn't need the MMR. But otherwise, I don't know. You'd think they could tick that you were vaccinated against rubella and had prior history of mumps and measles. Hmm. You know maybe you should phone Knightsbridge doctors to see if they can tell you if you need the MMR or not, and if they need proof of your measles/mumps history. Because maybe you would be fine. Most people in a similar situation to you have only had, say, measles and then the rubella vaccine so they still need the MMR. Common sense would say you're one of the few people who shouldn't need the MMR, but with immigration you never know Which is why the "easiest" path is to get the vaccine just before the medical. Personally I'd probably just go to the medical and risk having to pay ~£35 for the shot or send proof of receiving it afterwards (thus wasting a week or so).

[LauraDP 10]

If you did blood titres showing you were immune to all three you wouldn't need the MMR. But otherwise, I don't know. You'd think they could tick that you were vaccinated against rubella and had prior history of mumps and measles. Hmm. You know maybe you should phone Knightsbridge doctors to see if they can tell you if you need the MMR or not, and if they need proof of your measles/mumps history. Because maybe you would be fine. Most people in a similar situation to you have only had, say, measles and then the rubella vaccine so they still need the MMR. Common sense would say you're one of the few people who shouldn't need the MMR, but with immigration you never know Which is why the "easiest" path is to get the vaccine just before the medical. Personally I'd probably just go to the medical and risk having to pay ~£35 for the shot or send proof of receiving it afterwards (thus wasting a week or so).

Thanks, Joanna. I think I am just going to go ahead and get the MMR. I got it for my kids so I have no ethical concerns about it. It seems pointless for me to get it medically but the point is then in getting me further along in the immigration process without any hiccups for daft reasons. I spoke to the nurse today and she said my surgery is willing to waive all the fees for these "unnecessary" shots because they are necessary for our future plans so I am assuming this will also lead to them being willing to give me the second MMR. Worst case scenario is that I have to shell out for the booster shot at the Medical.

They have to order in the Hep B for the kids and schedule in three rounds of those shots so that won't get done tomorrow. We also cannot get flu shots until they begin stocking those in October and the same goes for the Pneumococcal.

What is crazy about all of this is that my husband - who has not kept his shots up to date, has never had chicken pox, measles or mumps - gets to enter the US without any problems because of having a US passport whereas the kids and I who have had everything done that is offered or required in the UK and have had various illnesses to make us immune naturally have to jump through all of these hoops.

Thanks again for your replies.

[JoannaV 174]

I spoke to the nurse today and she said my surgery is willing to waive all the fees for these "unnecessary" shots because they are necessary for our future plans so I am assuming this will also lead to them being willing to give me the second MMR.

What is crazy about all of this is that my husband - who has not kept his shots up to date, has never had chicken pox, measles or mumps - gets to enter the US without any problems because of having a US passport whereas the kids and I who have had everything done that is offered or required in the UK and have had various illnesses to make us immune naturally have to jump through all of these hoops.

Your surgery sounds awesome! <3

It's especially silly seeing as how you can visit on the visa waiver program and infect America...oh well.

[Adriene H 89]

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.

Careful on that one ... when we called my husband's GP here in Lancashire, they were not familiar with the term 'titre test'

[LauraDP 10]

Careful on that one ... when we called my husband's GP here in Lancashire, they were not familiar with the term 'titre test'

Curious. I wonder if different physicians use different medical terms for the same thing. I have had to have titres done before through my GP so they would get the concept. However, I am just going to go ahead and get the pointless MMR to save time and explanations and hassle.

[LauraDP 10]

Curious. I wonder if different physicians use different medical terms for the same thing. I have had to have titres done before through my GP so they would get the concept. However, I am just going to go ahead and get the pointless MMR to save time and explanations and hassle.

After all of that, the vaccines had not arrived with the surgery in time so we will need to go back for another appointment hopefully this week. I was given the tetanus, diptheria and polio booster but the adult MMR vaccine had not arrived and nor had the Hep B for the kids. The kids will get one shot of that followed by another a month later and one five months after that so it is going to be cutting it close to the time of the medical (assumed timescales, of course) to get through the whole Hep B schedule. If I had a letter from the surgery stating that the children are due for their final shot on X date, would the medical folks at Knightsbridge accept that, do you think?

Thanks

Laura

[Holly2234 66]

Its very likely that they would. They would probably get a waiver because the final shot would be medically inappropriate if it was given earlier. Thats what normally happens when somebody has the MMR at the medical. They cant have two done at once so the waiver is for the second one.

[LauraDP 10]

Its very likely that they would. They would probably get a waiver because the final shot would be medically inappropriate if it was given earlier. Thats what normally happens when somebody has the MMR at the medical. They cant have two done at once so the waiver is for the second one.

Thanks, Holly.

My surgery now has all the vaccines (except for the seasonal ones) in stock so next Thursday evening I am going for my MMR and the four boys will each get their first Hep B shot. Since they then have a month to wait for the second one and five months after that for the third there is a good chance that we will all be tickety boo before the medical but it eases my mind to know that a waiver would be possible if the timescales do go wonky for some reason. Due to the kids being so young, there is only so rapidly that they can give all the shots for medical reasons so I am sure that would qualify for a waiver.

Cheers

Laura

[Holly2234 66]

Sounds like everything is going to plan then! When are you thinking of filing the I-130?

[LauraDP 10]

Sounds like everything is going to plan then! When are you thinking of filing the I-130?

We will be filing the I130s in just a couple of weeks, early September. The paperwork is all ready and good to go but we have been holding off just to have a better fit with our timescales and so that I have a bit of time in which to break the news to my family when it is all still theoretical rather than a process we have actually embarked on, so as to break the news gently.