Question about vaccination in Vietnam

[frontgear 194]

My fiancee has been trying to get the Tdap shot where she lives but it seems that the vaccine is very limited stock and everybody is out of it. She probably had it when she was young but she lost her vaccination records so it looks like they may ask her to get vaccinated again.

My question is what happens if the Quarantine Center in HCMC is also out of this vaccine? Do they make you come back in a few wks/months to get the shot before you can get the yellow slip for medical exam for the interview? I think it is one of the required vaccinations for the medical exam. Or will they make an exception and let her get vaccinated when we submit her AOS in the States?

Has anyone run into this situation before?

Thanks!

Edited August 8, 2014 by frontgear

[bruins 14]

Tdap is the tetanus shot right? I don't think my wife got it at the quarantine. I believe she only got 2 that was needed based on her age and they gave her a yellow slip to give to the medical doctor for the sealed medical envelop. Plus tetatnus is something you can get in the US.

[frontgear 194]

Yes, Tdap is for Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis. I am sure my fiancee had had at least 1 dose when she was young but since she lost the records, I was not sure if they would require her to be vaccinated again.

Thanks for the help, bruins.

[natalie.le 10]

The quarantine office is out of Tdap (I called them last week or so). She may be able to get it at Columbia hospital but at the Binh Duong branch. I checked 2 weeks ago and they still had it. I think because they are so far away nobody goes there to have vaccination so they still have it. Good luck!

[frontgear 194]

The quarantine office is out of Tdap (I called them last week or so). She may be able to get it at Columbia hospital but at the Binh Duong branch. I checked 2 weeks ago and they still had it. I think because they are so far away nobody goes there to have vaccination so they still have it. Good luck!

Thank you, natalie.

[frontgear 194]

Like natalie.le said, the Quarantine Service is out of Varicella, DTP (or Tdap), and some other vaccines. My fiancee had 1 MMR shot on 8/4, 2 Hep-B shots about a month ago at her local Pasteur place, 1 Varicella shot about 4 yrs ago, so they transcribed everything into her Vaccination record, gave her 1 Flu shot, handed her the yellow slip, and told her to come back after her interview to get the 3rd Hep-B shot.

I guess if her Visa is approved, we will just have to get the rest of her required vaccines here in the states for AOS.

Thanks again for all the help!

Edited August 22, 2014 by frontgear

[natalie.le 10]

The quarantine office has Tdap vaccine as of 15 Oct.

[frontgear 194]

The quarantine office has Tdap vaccine as of 15 Oct.

Thank you. My fiancee had her 2nd TDap shot at the quarantine service on 9/24.

[viettek 0]

Hi frontgear,

Could you please describe your fiancée's recent experience with medical exam / vaccination process? How many days did it take for her to complete both processes and receive the results? My fiancee has a medical exam appointment at IOM next week, and she would go to the Quarantine Center at Nguyen Van Troi right after. She lives in Hue and only booked the hotel room in Saigon & return airplane ticket for 1 week so I hope she would be able to get everything done during this time.

[frontgear 194]

Hi frontgear,

Could you please describe your fiancée's recent experience with medical exam / vaccination process? How many days did it take for her to complete both processes and receive the results? My fiancee has a medical exam appointment at IOM next week, and she would go to the Quarantine Center at Nguyen Van Troi right after. She lives in Hue and only booked the hotel room in Saigon & return airplane ticket for 1 week so I hope she would be able to get everything done during this time.

I am sorry for the late response. It's been a little hectic lately (trying to catch up on work/projects and getting my fiancee signed up for her SSN, etc.)

My fiancee had her vaccinations done first and medical exam the next day. Turn around for medical exam results was 3 days (she had it on Wed but couldn't pick up the results until Monday afternoon). My fiancee lived in Dalat and stayed in Saigon for 5 days. She flew in on Monday morning, had vaccinations done on Tuesday, medical exam on Wed, but since her results weren't ready until the following Monday afternoon, she had to fly back the following week to pick up the results.

Vaccinations are done the same day. Your fiancee should show up at the place as early as possible to get the number (they open at 7AM). It is pretty quick. She should be in and out in about one hour, tops. The quarantine place will give her a yellow piece of paper (vaccinations record) to take to her medical exam.

Edited October 24, 2014 by frontgear

[viettek 0]

Thanks frontgear,

My fiancee just completed her medical exam and vaccination and received all the paperwork a few days ago. Our case went much smoother than I could have hoped for.

She went to IOM and had the medical exam on Monday morning, then went to Quarantine Service to pick up a number for the next day. Had vaccination shots the following morning, traveled back to IOM to give them the yellow paper, then picked up the sealed envelop with medical records from IOM later in the same afternoon. She was able to get everything done during the same trip and we are preparing for the interview

[frontgear 194]

Good luck with your fiancee's interview, viettek!