K1 Vaccination Requirements

[KiTu 38]

Hi all,

 

My Fiancè and I have received our NOA1, dated 08-11-2016. We are still waiting on our NOA2 despite sending in all the relevant evidence we could think of sending. We followed all the advice we read about here.

 

Today I visited my local travel vaccinations nurse about which vacs I would need to move. I advised her that off the top of my head I needed MMR, Hep A, Hep B and Tetanus. I think I missed Polio - am I right?

 

The BIG issue here is that there is NO record of me having had ANY ONE of those vacs, despite me remembering two vacs when I was younger! And despite the fact that I remember having my final Tetanus jab when I was 15.

 

I had my flu jab early December 2016.

I was fostered for 3 years from 1994/1995 - 1998 (adopted July 1998) 

I then changed my name from my Adoptive surname to my Birth surname in 2011. I sent a copy of the name change certificate AND a covering letter to all the relevant companies (bank, Drs, work, landlord etc).

But when I went for my immigration/travel appointment with the nurse today, there was NO record of any vaccination having occurred. The nurse agreed that there is no way I have got to 25 without them. But I need proof on paper, right? So she started the accelerated Hep a & B vaccine and the MMR vaccine today. I will have a few more to complete the courses. Plus Polio and Tetanus/Diphtheria.

 

So my questions:

 

1. Is there a chance that somehow a bunch of my records are under my adoptive surname despite changing back to my birth name and being linked to my NHS number?

2. Which vaccinations do I ACTUALLY need? I've started Hep A & B and MMR, I will have Tdap/TDP (Tetanus/Diphtheria) and polio because I know that they are important. I am just completely baffled as to how my records *even written!!!* have disappeared into thin air..

 

Help?

Edited January 9, 2017 by KiRo

[ZoeUK1989 35]

I don't know about why your records are not available so I am sorry I cannot answer on that one however you may as well just get your shots again...

 

You do not need that Hep A and B so I hope you haven't paid for those..

 

I am unsure why it tells you that you need these and it gets really confusing.

 

I have a list in front of me which is a table but I have tried to input it before and I cannot figure how to do it so I will try and list it for you as best I can.

 

DTP/DTaP/DT = birth - 1 month no... 2-11 months yes... anything above says no

Td/Tdap = Birth - 7 years no... 7 years or older yes

IPV = Up until 18 years old 

MMR x 2 = Yes if born in 1957 or later

hib = 2 months to 59 months... every other age no

Hep A = 12-23 months yes... every other age no

Hep B = Birth through till 18 years yes ... every other age no

Meningococcal (MCV4) = 11-18 years yes ... every other age no

Varicella = It says yes but this is not a vaccine given in the UK. Its Chicken pox so you just have to tell them when you had it. that is presuming you have

Pneumococcal = birth - 1 month no... 2 - 59 months yes (for PCV)... every other age no... apart from 65 and older for PPV

Influenza = yes if when you go for your medical it is in season (this is only available in the UK at certain times of the year. I had my medical in November and had to have the Influenza) 

 

 

Although doctors in the UK will tell you the Tetanus lasts for life they are wrong. you have to have it within ten years for it to be valid in the USA.

 

Just so you know in advance because I got caught out with this and I was a bit miffed that I didn't know and nowhere does it tell you, other than people on here. I just didn't read it until after going to my medical.

 

If you are short of any vaccinations when you go for your medical PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not say don't worry I will have it done at my doctors before I go. they will not try and stop you from doing this but it will be a costly mistake.

They will tell you that's fine which is true you can get your K1 without them however, what they will not tell you is that you will have to see a US civil surgeon before applying for your AOS. which will cost you big bucks no doubt.

 

suck up the cost of the vaccines and have them done there at the doctors. you will kick yourself if you don't. Believe me I wish I had a second chance to get them so my file was complete. 

 

 

I hope this helps you

 

 

[yuna628 9,676]

If you are age 25, there is no need for you to get quite a few of the shots you are currently willingly getting jabbed into you.

 

Here is the list of what you need:

Quote

Td or Tdap - Tetanus/diptheria/pertussis or get DT, DTP or DtaP and it will be accepted for AOS also. The latest shot must be no longer than 10 years ago or you need a booster. If you have a record of receiving pertussis, then the Td is okay for the booster.

• MMR - (if born in 1957 or later)-Mumps/measles/rubella. It's two doses in your life, but if you get the first dose, and 4 weeks haven't passed by your medical, they will waive the second dose for "insufficient time interval". If you only had one dose as a child, get a second one before the medical.
• Varicella - Not routinely given in the UK . A history of having chickenpox excuses you from the shot. They take your word for it at the visa medical exam.
• Influenza – Required during flu season only, October 1 through March 31. This was a new recommendation dated November 2010 for all ages over 6 months. Older lists will say flu shots for over age 50. It changed. The list on the London embassy website is out of date since 2009. Don’t follow it

 

 

 This is also good thread to review btw with proper information for London. 

Tetanus is not a vaccination for life. We go by US standards, and we typically like to have people re-get one periodically. If you cut yourself and wind up in a hospital, you'll most likely receive one too for good measure. Any of the vaccinations you receive now, keep the proof of it, as you'll need it when it's time for your medical. Does your GP have any vaccination records for you in their database? Sometimes, depending on events in the 80s-90s, it seems in the UK a lot of the records were on paper and could be stored in obscure places. It simply requires demanding someone actually get off their butts and go looking for it... and them actually listening to you. So in short.. there is no reason for you to get Hep B or A, unless you really want to. IIRC as a teenager, Hep B was a series of shots that needed many many months of spacing between them, and beyond age 18 it's of no real use to you. If you are going to receive both MMR vaccinations, this will also need about 4-6 weeks of spacing between.

[KiTu 38]

@yuna628 - because there is absolutely no record of me having had the Hep A & B and MMR vaccines, I have to start the course again at 25. If there was a record of me having had them, I wouldn't have to have them done. But as far as I know I have to have proof that I have had them. I can't just say that I have because I know that they are done as a child..

 

So from what I read above, as well as the courses I have already started I need to have Tdap.. what about polio? And what is pertussis? :/

 

thank you Zoe for the advice, too - much appreciated!

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Polio is not on the list. I know I had already had this but I don't think this is mentioned on the form they gave me back at Knightsbridge.

 

Nich-Nick's post that has been put up above is always a good read. She is a very intelligent woman and knows a lot about this process. She has helped me through a lot of it

 

You don't need those Hep jabs I'm sure of it. The MMR if there is no record yes, the Tetanus yes, Influenza yes if in season but I don't think you need the other ones going off that table that I wrote out for you. Purely because I'm a dummy and can't work out how to upload it for you but it is over their official website

 

 

[KiTu 38]

Ah - I just read the link that was posted.. Thank you!

 

I guess now that I have started the courses again (for free) I might as well complete the full course so that I at least have it on record?

 

They checked my paper notes and unfortunately there was nothing about my vaccinations even in those.. It's very odd. I was fostered and adopted as a child so my best guess is that somewhere along that line, the notes weren't transferred. It's actually quite a scary thought..

 

So I will get my Tetanus booster, I have had my flu jab and will complete the others. That has put my mind at ease!

 

Thank you all for responding

[yuna628 9,676]

2 hours ago, KiRo said:

@yuna628 - because there is absolutely no record of me having had the Hep A & B and MMR vaccines, I have to start the course again at 25. If there was a record of me having had them, I wouldn't have to have them done. But as far as I know I have to have proof that I have had them. I can't just say that I have because I know that they are done as a child..

 

So from what I read above, as well as the courses I have already started I need to have Tdap.. what about polio? And what is pertussis? :/

 

thank you Zoe for the advice, too - much appreciated!

KiRo, I hope to clarify this for you: It doesn't matter if you have had a record of Hep A & B or not. A lot of people around the world would have never received such vaccinations by the time they immigrated, because they were too old or it was not needed because of risk factors. My husband sure didn't.You do not need proof of any of those vaccinations at all (only in the event you are under the ages that are required - and your age alone makes you exempt from that). The only vaccinations you need proof of having, if you have had them are the ones I listed. I promise. I know it's confusing. If you have not had those vaccinations above, or have no proof of it. Then those are the ones you will be required to have.

 

 

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Yes if the vaccines are free you may as well. I was just thinking if your paying for them it would have saved you the pennies

 

It is kind of worrying that you vaccination record appears to be untraceable. Mine were in like a baby/child vaccine booklet and maybe because of your childhood history you do not have that.

Try not to worry about them too much because if you are missing them they will give you the opportunity to have them done at Knightsbridge, if this happens then take it for sure

They are lovely at the medical so I'm sure even when explain you didn't have access to a childhood vaccine record they will work with you to find what you need and offer it to you, but if you say no its okay they will not try and stop you or even state that it will cause you problems later down the line. 

 

Either way... congrats on your engagement by the way  

Best of luck with the whole process 

 

[KiTu 38]

Thanks yuna628 - that makes sense! I thought that they would be asking for my entire vaccination history.. Not just within the last 10 years or so (generalising).

 

It's so confusing!

But I really appreciate all your advice, so thank you

[TheSkywalkers 143]

Hey there! I just had my medical last Saturday, 7th of January and I thought I needed all the shots found on the list someone sent me, it was a long list of about 10 different vaccines BUT the doctor just asked me if I already had chicken pox before and I said yes. I ended up getting only 3 shots (see attached doc.). The nurse told me it is the doctor who will tell me what shots do I need to have. 

[yuna628 9,676]

23 minutes ago, missushabes said:

Hey there! I just had my medical last Saturday, 7th of January and I thought I needed all the shots found on the list someone sent me, it was a long list of about 10 different vaccines BUT the doctor just asked me if I already had chicken pox before and I said yes. I ended up getting only 3 shots (see attached doc.). The nurse told me it is the doctor who will tell me what shots do I need to have. 

Yours is a Philippines specific case, but the vaccination rules are the same for everyone. With London, Knightsbridge - they are often very good about giving out false information. In fact, telling patients that they don't have to get any shots at all if they don't want to (which is true to a degree, but they fail to understand they absolutely need them for AOS time), or that they can just go get them at their GP after their medical appointment (true, but useless because once you leave Knightsbridge anything you get afterwards is not certified and would require seeing a civil surgeon stateside to correct). This is why we always say to get the shots at the GP before going to the medical or have it during the medical.

[TheSkywalkers 143]

1 minute ago, yuna628 said:

Yours is a Philippines specific case, but the vaccination rules are the same for everyone. With London, Knightsbridge - they are often very good about giving out false information. In fact, telling patients that they don't have to get any shots at all if they don't want to (which is true to a degree, but they fail to understand they absolutely need them for AOS time), or that they can just go get them at their GP after their medical appointment (true, but useless because once you leave Knightsbridge anything you get afterwards is not certified and would require seeing a civil surgeon stateside to correct). This is why we always say to get the shots at the GP before going to the medical or have it during the medical.

I did not do it in the Philippines. I am in UAE.

 

just letting him know that vaccination records aren't always available for everyone but the doctor will point him out to which shots are the ones that are really really required and to make sure he gets them during his medical because it would be costing them too much to do it in the US.