This is about vaccinations..... I don't know where to post this thread

[TenderHearted 39]

Guys,

 

     If you're a moderator, please move this post if it's appropriate to do so....

 

     On the USCIS website, there are 8 vaccinations, with a generic 9th (Any other vaccine- preventable diseases recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices), that are required. My fiance is in the process of getting these vaccines now, before submitting the packet 3 required paperwork to the US embassy there (Madrid, Spain). My fiance's general physician is testing her blood to certify that she is immune from some of these diseases (In particular measles). Her physician is saying she shouldn't need to worry about getting this vaccine if the blood test she will be getting shows she is immune, and is saying he will certify this before she goes for the medical exam, if the blood test shows she's immune.

     My question is, will she still absolutely need this particular vaccination, if she is determined to be immune, or no? I've tried calling USCIS, but all I get is automated menus, and I can't figure out how to speak with a real person, someone who might know. I know that USCIS can be quite rigid in there requirements, but do they allow for this?

 

T

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

15 minutes ago, TenderHearted said:

Guys,

 

     If you're a moderator, please move this post if it's appropriate to do so....

 

     On the USCIS website, there are 8 vaccinations, with a generic 9th (Any other vaccine- preventable diseases recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices), that are required. My fiance is in the process of getting these vaccines now, before submitting the packet 3 required paperwork to the US embassy there (Madrid, Spain). My fiance's general physician is testing her blood to certify that she is immune from some of these diseases (In particular measles). Her physician is saying she shouldn't need to worry about getting this vaccine if the blood test she will be getting shows she is immune, and is saying he will certify this before she goes for the medical exam, if the blood test shows she's immune.

     My question is, will she still absolutely need this particular vaccination, if she is determined to be immune, or no? I've tried calling USCIS, but all I get is automated menus, and I can't figure out how to speak with a real person, someone who might know. I know that USCIS can be quite rigid in there requirements, but do they allow for this?

 

T

If your fiance has not had the MMR vaccine and it is required then she will have to get it. I know some countries during the medical process they will give you the vaccines there and you wouldn't have to get them outside of the official hospital the embassy uses for Spain. 

 

But I will move your post to a regional forum for better help.

[TenderHearted 39]

6 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

If your fiance has not had the MMR vaccine and it is required then she will have to get it. I know some countries during the medical process they will give you the vaccines there and you wouldn't have to get them outside of the official hospital the embassy uses for Spain. 

 

But I will move your post to a regional forum for better help.

OK, and thank you!

[Naes 12,205]

2 hours ago, TenderHearted said:

Guys,

 

     If you're a moderator, please move this post if it's appropriate to do so....

 

     On the USCIS website, there are 8 vaccinations, with a generic 9th (Any other vaccine- preventable diseases recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices), that are required. My fiance is in the process of getting these vaccines now, before submitting the packet 3 required paperwork to the US embassy there (Madrid, Spain). My fiance's general physician is testing her blood to certify that she is immune from some of these diseases (In particular measles). Her physician is saying she shouldn't need to worry about getting this vaccine if the blood test she will be getting shows she is immune, and is saying he will certify this before she goes for the medical exam, if the blood test shows she's immune.

     My question is, will she still absolutely need this particular vaccination, if she is determined to be immune, or no? I've tried calling USCIS, but all I get is automated menus, and I can't figure out how to speak with a real person, someone who might know. I know that USCIS can be quite rigid in there requirements, but do they allow for this?

 

T

If she goes through a titer test and it shows she is immune, they usually won't give her the vaccine (I didn't have it after showing the titer tests)  - may not apply to TD because of its 10 year interval nature-

 

You can ask to the US embassy required clinic, not USCIS about this.

 

While waiting for NOA2, I called the clinic that I was going and asked them about which vaccinations someone at my age would need (some vaccinations on the list is not required for you depending on the age and sometimes depending on the country. Age 19-65  was MMR, Varicella, TD (TDap), and flu depending on the season usually October to March. And then I asked what can I do if I don't have my records but I know I had these vaccines, they told me I can get a titer test. I just had these in my own clinic and took the results. 

 

You can call and check what they accept. But I am pretty sure even if you reach USCIS nobody there will be able to help you with this.

 

Official link for immigration related vaccinations by CDC. you can also see the age requirements on the table further in the page.

https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html

 

 

Edited September 22, 2018 by Naes

[Paul & Marina 53]

Yes, they test your blood for Titer’s, it’s a marker that checks to see if you have been previously exposed to that particular infectious disease.

 

If test is + for that disease, you have been exposed and have the appropriate immune response that your body can fight it off if you were to be re-exposed.

 

If test is – you may not have been exposed or if you had been previously immunized (documents by some type of record) exposed you did not get enough or your unable to fight this infection. You will reimmunized, after a waiting period you will be retested. If still – your body is not building antibodies and you could be at risk if exposed and my limit your ability to travel to countries you require immunization for that infectious disase.

[americaninlove 381]

19 hours ago, Naes said:

If she goes through a titer test and it shows she is immune, they usually won't give her the vaccine (I didn't have it after showing the titer tests)  - may not apply to TD because of its 10 year interval nature-

 

You can ask to the US embassy required clinic, not USCIS about this.

 

While waiting for NOA2, I called the clinic that I was going and asked them about which vaccinations someone at my age would need (some vaccinations on the list is not required for you depending on the age and sometimes depending on the country. Age 19-65  was MMR, Varicella, TD (TDap), and flu depending on the season usually October to March. And then I asked what can I do if I don't have my records but I know I had these vaccines, they told me I can get a titer test. I just had these in my own clinic and took the results. 

 

You can call and check what they accept. But I am pretty sure even if you reach USCIS nobody there will be able to help you with this.

 

Official link for immigration related vaccinations by CDC. you can also see the age requirements on the table further in the page.

https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html

 

 

I’m curious—did you go to your local clinic and ask them to do the titer test for specific vaccines you knew you would need? My

fiance has zero medical records but knows he got all the standard vaccines in Ireland as a child. He’s in Germany now and will get the titer testing done but is it just a general test for all of them or do you ask for specific ones? And then can you get any others you don’t test positive for right when you get your medical done or does it need to be in advance of the medical? Thank you!

[Naes 12,205]

5 hours ago, americaninlove said:

I’m curious—did you go to your local clinic and ask them to do the titer test for specific vaccines you knew you would need? My

fiance has zero medical records but knows he got all the standard vaccines in Ireland as a child. He’s in Germany now and will get the titer testing done but is it just a general test for all of them or do you ask for specific ones? And then can you get any others you don’t test positive for right when you get your medical done or does it need to be in advance of the medical? Thank you!

I am Turkish and was living in Japan so I also did not have any records. But I knew I had those vaccines or at least had some of those diseases as a child.

 

So I called the clinic (I called them even before we filed actually). I asked them which vaccines we need (although it was written on their website- I didn't know about VJ or where to find information back then) They gave me the list of vaccines for my age (the list I've posted before). I told them I don't have records but I did have those, and they told me they do a titer test (in the clinic when I go to health check). They also said it would add 10 days because of the test results. So I asked if I can do it outside in another clinic and take my results. They told me which test they accept for each disease (Some immunity shows in a more detailed test). So I went to my local clinic where they do these tests and got the results. I didn't have immunity to only one which was surprising but I also got the vaccine in my local clinic. 

 

So as I already had chicken pox, it doesn't need a test (also there is no test for that one) I told them orally, for Rubella - my doctor had me tested already so I had that. So in the new local clinic I asked for Mumps and Measles tests only, and had my vaccination for measles. I took all these and they recorded the dates from results and my vaccination receipt from Measles. 

 

As for TD as it is a booster, I had it during my medical. 

 

It doesn't have to be done beforehand if you USCIS/embassy assigned clinic does the test, but it may take longer to get result- you should ask the clinic.

For titer test, it is usually not a general test as immunity would differ to each disease. SO most likely he should ask.

 

And again you talked about 8-9 vaccines which I don't know where you got that list but I don't think he would need that many, so read the link I posted before and check which are his age appropriate. (That link applies to AOS/GC too.) In some countries they also ask for Polio, but I really don't think Germany is one of them.