Vaccinations

[SachaAndIain 10]

So it looks like my vaccination history is patchy. I've got records from previous travel of HepA&B, Thyphoid and yellow fever, and I had chicken pox when I was eight. I assume I got other vaccinations when I was born, but my records have been destroyed and I can't find what would have been legally required in 1982. I've got options at this point, and can't figure out which one to take. I can go to a local bulk billing doctor, who will give me a script to collect them from the chemist, then go back to get them administered. I can go to a specialist travel medical centre in Parramatta, but I'm pretty sure they don't bulk bill. They do, however, keep everything in stock and deal with this kind of thing regularly. I can also wait until my Sydney medical and get them then. I could also go to the bulk billing doctor to get an immunity test, then fill in the gaps with one of the other options. Have any of you used one of these routes? How much did it cost, and what other advise do you have?

[turtlegirl 6]

My fiancé had very few records of his immunizations, and he just took what he had with him and only ended up having to get 2 shots, one of which was the flu shot. He had also had chickenpox as a child. I had thought about him going and getting titers and such with the local doctor first, but he lives in a rural area and doctor appointments are hard to come by so he wasn't able to do that. I don't know how much he ended up paying for his vaccines at the medical, sorry, he didn't tell me that. A lot of the vaccinations on the list are age specific, so you don't need to have most of them re-done as an adult. I wouldn't be too worried. I think the major ones are the MMR and tetanus. And he had to get the flu shot because of it being flu season. He couldn't remember what other shot they gave him (he's horrible about that kind of thing- he just wanted to get it done and get out of there, lol) There's a list floating out there somewhere, and there are other threads that have more detail about the vaccinations if you search. That's not much help, sorry. But I really would just take what you have and have them figure out what you need rather than scramble to figure it out yourself. Otherwise you may end up getting and paying for shots you don't need at all.

[austex 42]

I just went to the local bulk billing they gave me a script and then I purchases the injection stuff I needed and then I went back to see the doctor and I had the injections. All up the meds were probably around $80 and the doctor was free.

M.

[SherryandDaniel 4]

You'll need blood titres of MMR and varicella (chicken pox) immunity. You could get the vaccines again but I would want to avoid needles. It was free for my fiancé to get bloodwork through his GP.

You'll also need a DTAP vaccine. I think it was $30 at the chemist and a flu shot which was also about $30. We took the vaccines over to the GP's office and the nurse injected them and we left 3 minutes later! If you have asthma (at least in WA), the flu shot was free.

You do not need Hep A or B (although it's good to have just for yourself), typhoid, or yellow fever.

Daniel had NONE of his vaccination records by the way. lol

So it looks like my vaccination history is patchy. I've got records from previous travel of HepA&B, Thyphoid and yellow fever, and I had chicken pox when I was eight. I assume I got other vaccinations when I was born, but my records have been destroyed and I can't find what would have been legally required in 1982. I've got options at this point, and can't figure out which one to take. I can go to a local bulk billing doctor, who will give me a script to collect them from the chemist, then go back to get them administered. I can go to a specialist travel medical centre in Parramatta, but I'm pretty sure they don't bulk bill. They do, however, keep everything in stock and deal with this kind of thing regularly. I can also wait until my Sydney medical and get them then. I could also go to the bulk billing doctor to get an immunity test, then fill in the gaps with one of the other options. Have any of you used one of these routes? How much did it cost, and what other advise do you have?

Edited July 25, 2013 by SherryandDaniel

[SachaAndIain 10]

Anyone know how much they cost if you leave them for Sydney medical? If they're included in the fee, that's obviously better. Getting bloods done today so I know what I need.

[SherryandDaniel 4]

I don't know how much they are for the Sydney medical. I can tell you but the confirmation letter for the medical states "Medical Fees $420 (as of 12 Febr 2013subject to change) This includes X-ray and pathology fees but vaccine costs not included."

Sorry it doesn't say how much exactly each vaccine costs, but I think pathology fees INCLUDE bloodwork. However, you would need to pay for the flu shot and DTAP, unless for some reason you had them recently.

Anyone know how much they cost if you leave them for Sydney medical? If they're included in the fee, that's obviously better. Getting bloods done today so I know what I need.

[SherryandDaniel 4]

Here is the ACTUAL confirmation e-mail, and you see exactly what they say about vaccines:

Dear

Your appointment with Dr

In order to complete your Visa Medical Examination in a timely manner, please send us the following information with a copy of your passport as soon as you have made your appointment.

1. Type of Visa requested (Immigrant, or Non-Immigrant)
2. Your case number(s) (does not apply to Non-Immigrant applicants except for K1 visa)
3. Home address (postal address as well, if different)
4. Telephone number (two numbers if possible), and email address
5. Have you ever lived overseas for more than 12 months? Which country(ies)? This includes being born overseas and having stayed there longer than 12 months
6. Are you having an interview with the US Consulate in Sydney, or are you in touch with the Consulate in another city (if so, which city?)
7. Birth Place (City and Country which is written on your passport)

_____________________________________________________________________

On the day of your medical examination , you will need to bring the following:

1. Current (valid) passport (preferred) or other photo ID
2. 3 passport size photos (only 1 photo for children under age 15)
3. Spectacles/reading glasses/contact lenses if used
4. Immunisation Records as per US Consulate website for specific age groups

Mainly

• DTP (Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) if born in 1957 or later (blood tests to check for immunity if no records available)
• Chicken Pox (Varicella) (Blood tests to check for immunity if no records available
• Flu Vaccine (for Medicals during 01 Apr to 30 Sept only)

If you are unable to show proof, or the test results are negative for immunity, you

may need to be vaccinated during the Visa Medical Examination visit and extra

costs will be incurred.

1. Child’s Immunisation Health Record (‘Blue Book’ in NSW) for children.
2. Children under 18 years may require more vaccinations than specified in the Childs Immunisation Health Records
3. Adults over 65 years require Pneumonia vaccine (free of charge) unless documented proof of vaccination available
4. Medical Fees $420 (as of 12 Febr 2013subject to change) This includes X-ray and pathology fees but vaccine costs not included
5. A4 size Express Post Envelope (please purchase at any Australia Post)
6. This medical examination takes approx 2 to 3 hours per person
7. You do not need to fast on the examination day

If you are unable to provide the documents on the day of your Medical Examination, you may be asked to re-book your Medical Examination and incur cancellation charges.

[SachaAndIain 10]

Excellent, thanks for that

[turtlegirl 6]

FWIW, my fiancé didn't have to have a titer for chickenpox (varicella.) He just had to tell the doctor when he had it (the actual chickenpox, not the shot.) He had his medical in Melbourne though, so I'm not sure why they do that differently.

Edited July 26, 2013 by turtlegirl

[SherryandDaniel 4]

You're welcome!

Excellent, thanks for that

[Sweetrayne 7]

Question. My fiancé has his medical in Sydney this Thursday. The results do not get mailed to him from what I understand. About how long does it take to get to consulate? Can he send off his packet 3 right away or will consulate notify him that they received it via email?

[usbridetobe 3]

Question. My fiancé has his medical in Sydney this Thursday. The results do not get mailed to him from what I understand. About how long does it take to get to consulate? Can he send off his packet 3 right away or will consulate notify him that they received it via email?

The Doctor told me it takes 4 working days .

I had my interview exactly a week after the medical and they had them .