Can the flu jab be avoided?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

You can always say you are allergic to eggs. As most influenza vaccines are produced by growing influenza virus in embryonated chicken eggs, and therefore contain trace amounts of egg protein.

Source - CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vax-summary.htm

I actually am allergic to eggs. I have never had a flu shot in my entire life. I should point out that I am the USC, so did not have to deal with being forced to get one for immigration purposes.

I do not know if they offer this for the immigration exams abroad, but they now have an egg-free option > http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/qa_flublok-vaccine.htm

I am planning on sticking with my body's own immunity and will still not be getting flu shots, with or without eggs.

Edited November 5, 2015 by KayDeeCee

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

The flu season typically runs from oct-may and I believe if you file for AOS in between this period without having a flu jab and without a waiver then yes you would be required to get the jab.

The flu season for immigration is Oct. - Mar.

Q. When does the flu season start for purposes of the seasonal flu vaccine requirement? Since the seasonal flu vaccine is required, do I have to get the seasonal flu vaccine if it is not the flu season?

A. For purposes of the immigration medical examination, the flu season starts on October 1 and ends on March 31 each year. If your immigration medical examination is during this period, you are required to have the seasonal flu vaccine. If you have an immigration medical examination completed between April 1 and September 30, when it is not the flu season for immigration purposes, you are not required to document that you have received the seasonal flu vaccine.

http://www.uscis.gov/news/questions-and-answers/vaccination-requirements

[MADDEN 40]

The flu season for immigration is Oct. - Mar.

Q. When does the flu season start for purposes of the seasonal flu vaccine requirement? Since the seasonal flu vaccine is required, do I have to get the seasonal flu vaccine if it is not the flu season?

A. For purposes of the immigration medical examination, the flu season starts on October 1 and ends on March 31 each year. If your immigration medical examination is during this period, you are required to have the seasonal flu vaccine. If you have an immigration medical examination completed between April 1 and September 30, when it is not the flu season for immigration purposes, you are not required to document that you have received the seasonal flu vaccine.

http://www.uscis.gov/news/questions-and-answers/vaccination-requirements

You are correct that the USCIS requirement of the flu vaccine is until march however if we are talking when is flu season in the USA in general its october thru to may.

As MAXX1 stated they applied for the AOS in march (out of flu season) but were still required to have the jab so USCIS may take the month of may into consideration.

[MADDEN 40]

You are correct that the USCIS requirement of the flu vaccine is until march however if we are talking when is flu season in the USA in general its october thru to may.

As MAXX1 stated they applied for the AOS in march (out of flu season) but were still required to have the jab so USCIS may take the month of may into consideration.

Just saw that its to the end of march not the beginning so please ignore my above statement.

[Berty 74]

I didn't fall within flu season at my original UK medical (way back when), but the AOS took an absolute age, dragged through to the end-months of the year and, after a service request, was approved the very next day (so, end of October). No flu shot RFE for me. I've no idea how often this sort of thing gets missed by the adjudicator(s) (or if my case was rushed because of the S.R.), but I didn't really want a flu shot so it worked out perdy well in the end.

Still, I think if one gets to the stage where they hope the requirement just gets missed then they're really stretching their luck and exhausted all other options.

Edited November 6, 2015 by Berty

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

You didn't get lucky by having the adjudicator look past it. You did not require a flu shot at your K-1 medical because it was not flu season. Your medical and vaccinations are still valid for AOS. It did not matter that they adjudicated your case in Oct.

Nich-Nick explained it on page 1 of this thread, here> http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/574161-can-the-flu-jab-be-avoided/?p=7882853and here> http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/574161-can-the-flu-jab-be-avoided/?p=7883042

And in her detailed sticky post about medicals/vaccinations for those adjusting from a K-1 here > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/551080-immunizations-ds-3025-or-i-693/

**Note on flu shot: Flu shots are required for adults of all ages if your visa exam was between (Oct 1 and March 31). But if the AOS adjudicator picks up your case when it is not flu season, you will be excused. And the reverse is true. The adjudicator picks up your case during flu season, but sees it was NOT flu season when you had your medical exam, you are also excused because the date they go by is the date of your visa exam to determine if you were current on that date. Keep in mind that if you go to a civil surgeon for an I-693, then you are resetting the medical exam date for immunizations and you may have to get second doses of shots or a flu shot to become current on your new immunization date of record.

[Berty 74]

You didn't get lucky by having the adjudicator look past it. You did not require a flu shot at your K-1 medical because it was not flu season.

No, I got lucky because I had to see a civil surgeon, which as you quoted, can and does reset the clock, re: dates. For some reason I thought that but didn't type it.

Edited November 7, 2015 by Berty

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I think with thousands of officers across the land, you can end up being lucky or unlucky despite your best efforts to try to follow the USCIS "rules". Some look it up. Some make it up. In the end, most immigrants just do what the guy whose controlling their approval says at the time.

[Boiler 45,510]

They say jump

You say how high?

[CanCal2016 21]

I was one of those lucky H1N1 winners in 2009... Didn't die thankfully! hah

But we also have to keep in mind, that a) yes people do react to the shots for one freak reason or another and it's completely unfortunate, b) what people think is the FLU actually usually is only the common cold. The flu is actually quite devastating, and can lead to death. SO a lot of common misconceptions about the flu and what it entails comes from people mistaking a common cold with the actual flu virus. Every year the flu virus mutates (as do so many other things we are vaccinated against), but much like the other shots we get, we receive these shots to safeguard not only ourselves but the people with low immune systems.

It really does come down to personal choice, but it also should refelct GOOD science and not someones opinion on whether they think the shots are legit. That's how polio and all of those scary viruses/diseases can make a comback.

Food for thought

On another note, IM SO excited for everyone receiving their notices to book medicals and stuff. I'm a touch envious...

I don't remember what year it was (I believe it was 2009) there was an outbreak of the swine flu and there was a frantic rush to make a new vaccine. So frantic that a company were allowed to start producing and distributing a new vaccine without it ever being tested on humans.

I didn't know this information at the time, I had just gotten a job as a temp nursing assistant at the hospital in my home town and since I was going to work with people with heart problems and cancer I figured I should get vaccinated.

After that people reported that they had gotten narcolepsy and other awful stuff from the flu vaccine and since then I don't vaccinate myself against any kind of flu.

[Unidentified 2,930]

I was one of those lucky H1N1 winners in 2009... Didn't die thankfully! hah

But we also have to keep in mind, that a) yes people do react to the shots for one freak reason or another and it's completely unfortunate, b) what people think is the FLU actually usually is only the common cold. The flu is actually quite devastating, and can lead to death. SO a lot of common misconceptions about the flu and what it entails comes from people mistaking a common cold with the actual flu virus. Every year the flu virus mutates (as do so many other things we are vaccinated against), but much like the other shots we get, we receive these shots to safeguard not only ourselves but the people with low immune systems.

It really does come down to personal choice, but it also should refelct GOOD science and not someones opinion on whether they think the shots are legit. That's how polio and all of those scary viruses/diseases can make a comback.

Food for thought

On another note, IM SO excited for everyone receiving their notices to book medicals and stuff. I'm a touch envious...

When it comes to any other vaccine I am all for it and I admire doctors who have the courage to refuse new patients who refuse to vaccinate their children and I'm all for refusing child care to children who has not been vaccinated. Where I live we've had two cases of the measles in a very short time. But that vaccine has really scared me and if I would ever get a job with small children or sick people again I'd definitely consider getting it. But for now, I'll just stay away from people if I suspect the flu

[londongal 17]

What about if you are pregnant - can you be excused from the flu shot?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Nope, in fact pregnant women are heavily encouraged to get the vaccine