Do I need all these vaccinations or is this a ripoff attempt by doctor ?

[strangefella 1]

Need to get the medical exam done and here is what the office of my primary care physician quoted me. Comes out to a total of 745. When I check the older posts, some have reported getting it done for $300-400. I can't find a single doctor for that sum in my area.

I was born in India and MMR wasn't available back then, I got BCG and DTP shots when I was a kid, and I don't have any certificate/document as proof of getting those shots. I had a skin test for TB done when I first came to attend school. I have never had any of the other vaccinations other than the flu shots. 

Immigration Physical 145
Hep A 90
Hep B 95 
Varicella 180
Influenza 32 (already got flu shot)
MMR 105
Admin of multiple vaccines 35
TB test 45
Gono 60
Total of ~750

Do I even need all these shots ? The vaccinations requirements page of USCIS lists only mumps, measles, rubella (MMR), polio, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B and any other vaccine-preventable diseases recommended by the ACIP as required vaccines. I wonder if this list is a ripoff attempt by the doctor's office. 

[sparkles_ 456]

You should ask for blood titer tests that show immunity based on past vaccines, you won't need paper proof if you have a positive immunity titer. Yes, some doctors will make a money grab and not mention titer tests. 

 

As for others, I know for a fact my spouse didn't get hep A and varicella. 

[deleted this acco 44]

U should get a second opinion.  Is this a civil surgeon?

[strangefella 1]

 

12 minutes ago, sparkles_ said:

You should ask for blood titer tests that show immunity based on past vaccines, you won't need paper proof if you have a positive immunity titer. Yes, some doctors will make a money grab and not mention titer tests. 

 

As for others, I know for a fact my spouse didn't get hep A and varicella. 

The doctor's office did mention blood titer tests. 
Did your wife check for hep A and varicella immunity in the blood tests ?

 

5 minutes ago, abbynak said:

U should get a second opinion.  Is this a civil surgeon?

Yes, this is a civil surgeon. 

[sparkles_ 456]

6 minutes ago, strangefella said:

 

The doctor's office did mention blood titer tests. 
Did your wife check for hep A and varicella immunity in the blood tests ?

 

Yes, this is a civil surgeon. 

Husband, but yes. They did titer tests for the big ones. He didn't get any hep A or varicella at all if I recall

[Nouchigang 200]

Hello,

 

I just did my exam in Maryland and yes civil surgeons do rip you off. I had titers done thru our insurance and had all the proof with me, but they still didnt accept it and made me redo it and of course pay for it. They said immigration is very picky yada yada yada.

Anyways First of you do not Hep A thats for sure.

You do need Varicella, MMR, Hep B, Gonorrhea, Tdap (for tetanus) and syphilis. I would definitely search for another one because this is too expensive.

I paid $278 for a MMR titer, Immigration Physical, Gonorrhea, Syphilis. I had proof for my Hep B and did have Varicella as a child so didnt need to get it verified.

 

I am not sure if you have insurance or not but if you can have it at a low cost, get a titer to prove that you had some of the vaccines

For the ones you are missing, contact your insurance and see if they would cover it if you get it done at a clinic.

When searching for another civil surgeon make sure to ask them if they would accept titers from other places and get all proof for the vaccines

[NovaSprings 89]

Have a look at the following (scroll down to vaccinations) ..... Looks like your list is different than the official list....https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/interview/interview-prepare/medical-examination-faqs.html

[NikLR 13,227]

Varicella is chicken pox.  If you've had it you shouldn't need the vaccine.

You do not need hep a or b as they are not age appropriate.  Hep B vaccinations are given to 5th graders. 

I know they test for syphilis but dont think they test for gonorrhea.  

You need mmr and tdap or at least TD. 

[EandH0904 1,184]

12 hours ago, NikLR said:

Varicella is chicken pox.  If you've had it you shouldn't need the vaccine.

You do not need hep a or b as they are not age appropriate.  Hep B vaccinations are given to 5th graders. 

I know they test for syphilis but dont think they test for gonorrhea.  

You need mmr and tdap or at least TD. 

Hepatitis B is a bloodborne pathogen that currently infects adults. It's given to 5th graders in the US because it is mandated by state law (in my state - it's given to newborns!) - if a person hasn't had the Hep B series, it's required to have upon entry.

 

Hepatitis A is a foodborne illness and is not routinely given as a preventative vaccination in the US, but is also required. 

 

@strangefella That link above is the vaccinations that are required, they include:  Hepaitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Influeza type B (Hib), MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Pneumonia, Pertussis and Tetanus (the TDAP vaccine covers both), Polio, Rotavirus, Meningitis and Varicella. Varicella is commonly known as "Chicken Pox" here - but there is another disease, known as "Shingles" that is also a strain of the varicella line. 

 

As a RN - I don't think that Hep A, Rotovirus, Pneumonia, Meningitis are commonly given in the US, but if they are required, then I guess you should just do them. 

 

So the only one on your list which isn't needed really is the Gono one. 

[AshMarty 360]

Also you will likely need a chest X-ray instead of the TB test since you received the BCG vaccine. 

 

The BCG vaccine would  likely cause you to have a false positive on the TB test. If you from one of the countries that gives this vaccine than you may required to get a chest X-ray to confirm you do not have tuberculosis.

 

The US does not offer this vaccine so we can perform the TB test pretty easily. 

 

My husband is from Australia and received the vaccine, so he was required to get a chest X-ray. 

 

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/vaccines.htm

Edited April 11, 2018 by AshMarty

[Tenreyro 174]

Aren't there only 4 vaccines required for applicants between 18 and 65?

(TD, Measles, Varicella and Influenza)

 

This chart is shown on the CDC website, which is where USCIS page sends you for information. The chart is literally called "Vaccine Requirements According to Applicant Age"

 

Sorry, I ask because I am genuinely interested on the topic, and want to correct any mistake I have on how I thought things might be.

Edited April 11, 2018 by Tenreyro

[Mrsjackson 300]

Never in all my research heard of the gono one. I would seriously question that. 

[gc@gc 184]

21 hours ago, strangefella said:

Need to get the medical exam done and here is what the office of my primary care physician quoted me. Comes out to a total of 745. When I check the older posts, some have reported getting it done for $300-400. I can't find a single doctor for that sum in my area.

I was born in India and MMR wasn't available back then, I got BCG and DTP shots when I was a kid, and I don't have any certificate/document as proof of getting those shots. I had a skin test for TB done when I first came to attend school. I have never had any of the other vaccinations other than the flu shots. 

Immigration Physical 145
Hep A 90
Hep B 95 
Varicella 180
Influenza 32 (already got flu shot)
MMR 105
Admin of multiple vaccines 35
TB test 45
Gono 60
Total of ~750

Do I even need all these shots ? The vaccinations requirements page of USCIS lists only mumps, measles, rubella (MMR), polio, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B and any other vaccine-preventable diseases recommended by the ACIP as required vaccines. I wonder if this list is a ripoff attempt by the doctor's office. 

 

you can get most of them from cvs, walgreens, ridaid, etc, most of them they are free (covered by your health insurance, no copy pay)

 

[Orangesapples 1,954]

1 hour ago, Mrsjackson said:

Never in all my research heard of the gono one. I would seriously question that. 

I've never heard of a gonorrhea vaccine either, but a gonorrhea test is required now. 

[CaliRose 19]

22 hours ago, Nouchigang said:

Hello,

 

I just did my exam in Maryland and yes civil surgeons do rip you off. I had titers done thru our insurance and had all the proof with me, but they still didnt accept it and made me redo it and of course pay for it. They said immigration is very picky yada yada yada.

Anyways First of you do not Hep A thats for sure.

You do need Varicella, MMR, Hep B, Gonorrhea, Tdap (for tetanus) and syphilis. I would definitely search for another one because this is too expensive.

I paid $278 for a MMR titer, Immigration Physical, Gonorrhea, Syphilis. I had proof for my Hep B and did have Varicella as a child so didnt need to get it verified.

 

I am not sure if you have insurance or not but if you can have it at a low cost, get a titer to prove that you had some of the vaccines

For the ones you are missing, contact your insurance and see if they would cover it if you get it done at a clinic.

When searching for another civil surgeon make sure to ask them if they would accept titers from other places and get all proof for the vaccines

Hi where did you get ur vaccine? Shall we do it our family Dr? Because when i told my primary dr he said I can't do immigration vaccine because they will reject it. So how can i get all those? I had done some of them before but no record on my hand.