immunization records, what is required?

[AndreaK 1]

i contacted the local clinic in town that is approved to perform the medical exam, and was told that one of the items i need to bring with me is my record of vaccinations. went to the local public health office to get these records and guess what? there is no record of ANYTHING!!!! apparently Capital Health only keeps records for 7 years. #######??????

i moved to Alberta from Manitoba in 1990, and started jr high here in AB. i KNOW i had some vaccinations done through school in the first 2-3 years we lived here, but the majority were done in MB. i'm going to hunt for some records at my parents' house and hopefully have some luck, but if i can't find anything there - or get anything from Manitoba Health - what can i do? apparently i can get a blood test that will identify which diseases i have been vaccinated for, but will this be accepted for the medical and/or visa?

i don't know what to do and i'm starting to stress pretty bad...

[kitkat1 5]

If you cannot get the records, get the blood test. Or wait until you are in the US to do it. Vaccinations are not a requirement for a K1 visa.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...tml#Vaccination

Vaccination Requirements

All applicants for immigrant visas are required to have the following vaccinations, if appropriate, for age, medical condition, or medical history:

Mumps

Measles

Rubella

Polio

Tetanus and diptheria toxoids

Pertussis

Influenza type B

Hepatitis B

Varicella

Pneumococcal

As a fiancé(e), you are not required to fulfill this requirement at the time of your medical examination for a fiancé(e) visa. However, you may want to do so. These vaccinations are required when you adjust status following your marriage.

[payxibka 10,047]

i contacted the local clinic in town that is approved to perform the medical exam, and was told that one of the items i need to bring with me is my record of vaccinations. went to the local public health office to get these records and guess what? there is no record of ANYTHING!!!! apparently Capital Health only keeps records for 7 years. #######??????

i moved to Alberta from Manitoba in 1990, and started jr high here in AB. i KNOW i had some vaccinations done through school in the first 2-3 years we lived here, but the majority were done in MB. i'm going to hunt for some records at my parents' house and hopefully have some luck, but if i can't find anything there - or get anything from Manitoba Health - what can i do? apparently i can get a blood test that will identify which diseases i have been vaccinated for, but will this be accepted for the medical and/or visa?

i don't know what to do and i'm starting to stress pretty bad...

First of all, NO vaccinations are required for a K-1. You have some time to find your documents before you file for AOS after you are married.

[AndreaK 1]

thanks that does relieve some of the stress, but i'll still have to either get the records or blood test to satisfy the requirements later on... might as well get that started now, who knows how long it will take i swear, by the time this is all said and done, my fiance and i will have a stack of paper 2 ft tall...

[mozplay 29]

I had no idea that the vaccinations were not required for the K-1. I made sure and had all of mine updated.

To the OP though - if you have not had any shots since you were a child then it's probably safe to say that you should be updated anyway. Whether you choose to get booster, the shots again, or titres, my advice would be to do in in Canada - where you at least know you can get it done cheaply or for free, rather than waiting to do it in the US for about a gazillion dollars a shot.

That's just a rough guesstimate.

Good luck!

Mo

[MissStacey 1]

I'm in Alberta too and they didn't have my records either.

I just went to the Medicentre and asked them to send me to the Lab for a Titres test.

You need proof for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Tetnus, and the Doctor who does you Medical will take Oral Testimony that you had Chicken Pox, so you don't have to have Titres for that.

My childhood Doctor had a record of me of when I had the Chicken Pox, he wrote me a letter, but I don't really need it.

I did have to redo some of my shots, I showed low immunity on a few things. Alberta Health care covered both the Titres and the shots.

Edited May 8, 2007 by Stacey33

[~Nini~ 2]

Oh, I'm glad I found this thread. I can get my immunization stuff started!

...it's sad that I found that exciting. I hate what this process has turned me into.

[lynamon 0]

I went to my Doctors and she just gave me all of the shots again instead of getting the titres done(MMR and tetanus). They are free under our health care system so I would suggest that you get them done now instead of waiting until later. She filled in the yellow immunization record and I was good to go when it came to the medical. Influenza is only required for 50+.

[ladykelia 0]

I wish I could help you but I can't... actually I have a few related questions about what is required for these records too... My Canadian fiance only has a handwritten records from the first 3-4 years of his life... they are signed off by a doctor, but we haven't been able to get anything more official than these. Will they work?

[mozplay 29]

I wish I could help you but I can't... actually I have a few related questions about what is required for these records too... My Canadian fiance only has a handwritten records from the first 3-4 years of his life... they are signed off by a doctor, but we haven't been able to get anything more official than these. Will they work?

Those will work fine.

I went to my Doctors and she just gave me all of the shots again instead of getting the titres done(MMR and tetanus). They are free under our health care system so I would suggest that you get them done now instead of waiting until later. She filled in the yellow immunization record and I was good to go when it came to the medical. Influenza is only required for 50+.

I chose to get my shots done again too for TDP and MMR. My doctor seemed to think it was a good idea as it had been 30+ years since the original round of shots.

Mo

[Caladan 19]

C. was told the records were only kept for seven years (also Albertan), so he just had the blood titres taken. I think he may have even had that done on the day of the medical. Easy fix.

[Carlawarla 1]

You might want to get your vaccinations done in Canada as most provinces will cover the cost and they can then be done for free. Why wait until you're in the US, and then have to pay for them? Just my thoughts.

Carla

[vnoe 0]

I just went through the same thing. I had no record of my vaccinations. I live in Saskatchewan and contacted the Public Health office here. I made and appointment and I was able to go in and have my tetanus/diptheria and MMR done. I know my MMR was already done, but I hadn't had a tetanus in the last 10 years. There was only a charge for the MMR and that was $23. I know when I had my blood taken for my medical they also tested for chicken pox (varicella), which I had when I was little and had told the panel DR. that as well. So....I probably paid too much for my blood test. Oh well...its done now.

Just to be safe and sure I would get them done again.

My panel physician asked me for my immunization records when I went in.

This is for a K1.

Good luck!

[misa 2]

These are the ones that are age appropriate for people 18-64: http://www.panelphysicians.com/Pages/Age6.htm

[AndreaK 1]

yeah, i'll probably have the blood test done to confirm what - if anything other than the tetanus - needs updating and get it all done at once before moving. like everyone has said, why pay to get it done state-side if i can get it done here for free?

thx everyone for the replies, it's greatly appreciated