Vaccinations and medical records...

[Devonian 20]

Hi all,

my CR-1 has moved along far enough for me to be considering sorting out the health requirements for the visa.

So I've popped down to my doctor's, asked them for a copy of my medical records (they did say that they might not have my full records, which begs the question where do one's earlier non-electronic records end up when you move about and is there any chance of finding them??) and my vaccination record.

At 45 I'm old enough to have had the MMR jabs but my vaccination record only shows the Measles jab. I have a feeling that when I was younger I had both Mumps and German Measles - presumably this should be noted on my medical records (if they still exist that far back!!) and if so I presume I won't need the jabs? Does anyone know if there is a blood test for ascertaining whether I've had both of those diseases as a child?

When people get their documents together for the interview/medical do they consider 'medical records' to be only those which the doctor holds or do we have to run around and obtain dental records and anything else medically related (in this instance, records kept by several Homeopathic practitioners)?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi all,

my CR-1 has moved along far enough for me to be considering sorting out the health requirements for the visa.

So I've popped down to my doctor's, asked them for a copy of my medical records (they did say that they might not have my full records, which begs the question where do one's earlier non-electronic records end up when you move about and is there any chance of finding them??) and my vaccination record.

At 45 I'm old enough to have had the MMR jabs but my vaccination record only shows the Measles jab. I have a feeling that when I was younger I had both Mumps and German Measles - presumably this should be noted on my medical records (if they still exist that far back!!) and if so I presume I won't need the jabs? Does anyone know if there is a blood test for ascertaining whether I've had both of those diseases as a child?

When people get their documents together for the interview/medical do they consider 'medical records' to be only those which the doctor holds or do we have to run around and obtain dental records and anything else medically related (in this instance, records kept by several Homeopathic practitioners)?

Just get another MMR. Cheaper than a blood test. Maybe even free on NHS. Many do it free, but they don't have to.

If it is close to your medical appointment, then you get a waiver for second dose. There is a 4 week waiting period between doses so get the first less than 4 weeks before the medical and you don't have to get the second.

You also need Tdap or Td dated within the last 10 years. You probably don't have that either.

Having chickenpox gets you out of the varicella shot. They take your word for it. No record needed.

Flu season ends in 3 days, so no flu shot needed.

You do not need to take your medical records to the exam. If you have or have had anything like major surgery, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression...then they will want a short statement written by you doctor explaining when, treatment, medication, and how you are now. They do not want to see the actual records from your file. It is a summary statement from your doctor giving them details.

[Devonian 20]

Just get another MMR. Cheaper than a blood test. Maybe even free on NHS. Many do it free, but they don't have to.

If it is close to your medical appointment, then you get a waiver for second dose. There is a 4 week waiting period between doses so get the first less than 4 weeks before the medical and you don't have to get the second.

You also need Tdap or Td dated within the last 10 years. You probably don't have that either.

Having chickenpox gets you out of the varicella shot. They take your word for it. No record needed.

Flu season ends in 3 days, so no flu shot needed.

You do not need to take your medical records to the exam. If you have or have had anything like major surgery, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression...then they will want a short statement written by you doctor explaining when, treatment, medication, and how you are now. They do not want to see the actual records from your file. It is a summary statement from your doctor giving them details.

Cheers for the swift reply. Handy to know that it's cheaper just to have the MMR jab (my surgery are going to hit me for 40 quid for that one).

The tetanus, diphtheria, etc, one is interesting, I was under the impression that I needed boosters every ten years however, thanks to a penchant for accidents of one sort or another, I have had five tetanus injections in my lifetime (the last in '98) and was told last week that, once you've had five, that is your lot - for ever!!!

[yuna628 9,676]

If you've had one in 98' you'd be over the ten years though, and you will still need a new shot. American rules, don't care about the rest of the world.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Cheers for the swift reply. Handy to know that it's cheaper just to have the MMR jab (my surgery are going to hit me for 40 quid for that one).

The tetanus, diphtheria, etc, one is interesting, I was under the impression that I needed boosters every ten years however, thanks to a penchant for accidents of one sort or another, I have had five tetanus injections in my lifetime (the last in '98) and was told last week that, once you've had five, that is your lot - for ever!!!

See what Tesco, Boots or some of those places charge. Get the cheapest if your surgery plans to charge you. This is the Knightsbridge price list http://www.visamedicals.info/us-price.asp

[Devonian 20]

If you've had one in 98' you'd be over the ten years though, and you will still need a new shot. American rules, don't care about the rest of the world.

Haha, that's what I thought!! I cannot find anything online about a 5 dose maximum (except a reference to the 5-in-1 sequence given to children) and wonder if I was being fed b***sh*t, I've not been overly impressed by this current quack

I was under the impression that I'd be looking for a Tdap and MMR sometime between now and medical time. (Cheers for the heads up on Boots/Tesco's Nich-Nick, I hadn't thought about trying other places for jabs )

[-Shana- 152]

Just a hint, tell your GP you are travelling and they should give you the shots for free. I'm not sure if they'd do the same if you told them you were leaving!

[Devonian 20]

Just a hint, tell your GP you are travelling and they should give you the shots for free. I'm not sure if they'd do the same if you told them you were leaving!

That was the fee for a 'travelling' request!!! This lot would probably charge for a deep clean if you farted in the waiting room!

[-Shana- 152]

That was the fee for a 'travelling' request!!! This lot would probably charge for a deep clean if you farted in the waiting room!

Ugh, what a joke! Though I know that some GP's are a lot tighter with that sort of stuff than others. I was charged £10 for a copy of my vaccination records but the shots were free. (I even managed to get the flu jab for free at Asda since no one asked me to pay at any point and I only realised it when I was on the bus home, whoops!)

[Devonian 20]

Ugh, what a joke! Though I know that some GP's are a lot tighter with that sort of stuff than others. I was charged £10 for a copy of my vaccination records but the shots were free. (I even managed to get the flu jab for free at Asda since no one asked me to pay at any point and I only realised it when I was on the bus home, whoops!)

....But they didn't charge me for a copy of vaccination records

[-Shana- 152]

....But they didn't charge me for a copy of vaccination records

Whoop whoop!