UK immunization records

[JoshKT21 4]

My fiancee is in the UK and we are gathering information to prepare for getting the NOA 2 in the next couple of months. One thing we're running in to is finding her immunization records. Her GP's office has said they only have records back to 2013 when records were digitized. Has anyone ran in to this and is there a work around? Also, will they accept the immunization information since 2013 for her and her children in the form of a secure NHS email or is there something else we should be gathering?

[mam521 2,113]

Your partner can ask her GP to perform a titres test which will show immunity for the required vaccines and can be used in place of the records.  If the test comes back with some immunities missing, she can then get those vaccines and bring her record up to date.  

[LaJumpa 40]

I had a simular situation!

 

I contacted my GP and all they had on record from birth was my covid vaccines. I explained that I will need to prove my childhood vaccines for immigration and they offered a full course of MMR, TB/Polio to be done again so I'm freshly up to date. 

 

The only one they are unable to offer for free is Hep B. I have looked around and most pharmacies will offer a full course for around £130. 

 

Personally id rather have everything redone so there are no delays. You may be able to provide an antibody test to the clinic in London to prove that you have immunity but without contacting them myself I don't know if thats an option.

[Chancy 6,243]

*** Moved from K1 Progress Reports to the UK regional forum, for country-specific input ***

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

3 hours ago, JoshKT21 said:

My fiancee is in the UK and we are gathering information to prepare for getting the NOA 2 in the next couple of months. One thing we're running in to is finding her immunization records. Her GP's office has said they only have records back to 2013 when records were digitized. Has anyone ran in to this and is there a work around? Also, will they accept the immunization information since 2013 for her and her children in the form of a secure NHS email or is there something else we should be gathering?

Things you can take for reference to shots not digitized.

• The “little red book” that mum’s used to have as record of shots
• A manual write up by the clinic if they can see older manual records. My nurse just hand wrote on a paper and signed it herself with a stamp of the practice name and address.
• if you had chickenpox as a child, you just tell them at the visa clinic and your Varicella jab is waived and recorded  “history of varicella”.

Mostly for this purpose, a record of  2 MMR as a child would take care of that shot requirement. Everything else should be in your 2013 and forward records because as an adult, they don’t have to record every baby shot you ever had. You only need to prove the adult appropriate shots. 
 

The visa clinic will tell you you do not even need any shots for a K1visa. While that is correct, it is not a good choice to defer until you file for your greencard after marriage. You will have to pay a new US doctor for shots, an exam, blood tests, and  TB test. Maybe $350 plus shots. Just saw one charged $650. And another denied their AOS because the US doctor messed up the immunisation form. If you get all shots needed signed off as complete for AOS when you attend your visa medical, you are done forever with doctors and shots when you get to the US. The London clinic is bad about telling folks to just go get their shots at their GP before leaving for the US and all will be well. Not without paying a new US doctor $350-$650. Insist on them getting your shots sorted and signed off before they send your report to the embassy. Don’t let them talk you out of it. They do not know how it works with Adjustment of Status.

 

 

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

@JoshKT21

 

In case you need this list—

 

Here are the shots needed for 19 through 59 years of age:

• Td or Tdap - Tetanus/diptheria/pertussis or get DT, DTP or DtaP and it will be accepted. The latest shot must be no longer than 10 years ago or you need a booster. In the UK they will give Revaxis which is Tetanus/diphtheria +polio. Adults don’t need polio for immigration but that’s the combo available in the UK. They don’t have a Tetanus and diphtheria only jab like Adacel given in the US.  
• 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. They will also waive the shot in the UK for "not routinely available". 
• Influenza - Required during flu season only, October 1 through March 31.  If your medical is not during flu season, you don't need it. 
• Hepatitis B - required for all applicants up to 59 years old. 
• COVID-19 vaccine - Completely vaccinated with primary dose 1&2. No boosters required at this time.(New starting 1-Oct-2021).

[AndiB 677]

19 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

@JoshKT21

 

In case you need this list—

 

Here are the shots needed for 19 through 59 years of age:

• Td or Tdap - Tetanus/diptheria/pertussis or get DT, DTP or DtaP and it will be accepted. The latest shot must be no longer than 10 years ago or you need a booster. In the UK they will give Revaxis which is Tetanus/diphtheria +polio. Adults don’t need polio for immigration but that’s the combo available in the UK. They don’t have a Tetanus and diphtheria only jab like Adacel given in the US.  
• 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. They will also waive the shot in the UK for "not routinely available". 
• Influenza - Required during flu season only, October 1 through March 31.  If your medical is not during flu season, you don't need it. 
• Hepatitis B - required for all applicants up to 59 years old. 
• COVID-19 vaccine - Completely vaccinated with primary dose 1&2. No boosters required at this time.(New starting 1-Oct-2021).

Thanks for this, do you know if you need full hep b coverage? I believe it's 3 for full cover, 2 for 10yrs and 1 for 1yr. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

56 minutes ago, AndiB said:

Thanks for this, do you know if you need full hep b coverage? I believe it's 3 for full cover, 2 for 10yrs and 1 for 1yr. 

It’s kinda complicated. But if you have at at least one dose close to your appointment and it is too soon for more, you get a waiver for “insufficient interval”. You won’t need more as long as you get signed off on all shots needed in London. If you wait (K1s can) then in the states, you could be due more shots because you would have to pay a new doctor and the time interval that was waived in London May be fine to get more by the time you see the new doctor called Civil Surgeon.

 

Following info is from CDC. I don’t know what brand(s) they use in the UK.

 

Hepatitis B vaccination

Routine vaccination

• Age 19 through 59 years: complete a 2- or 3-, or 4-dose series
  • 2-dose series only applies when 2 doses of Heplisav-B* are used at least 4 weeks apart
  • 3-dose series Engerix-B or Recombivax HB at 0, 1, 6 months [minimum intervals: dose 1 to dose 2: 4 weeks / dose 2 to dose 3: 8 weeks / dose 1 to dose 3: 16 weeks])
  • 3-dose series HepA-HepB (Twinrix at 0, 1, 6 months [minimum intervals: dose 1 to dose 2: 4 weeks / dose 2 to dose 3: 5 months])
  • 4-dose series HepA-HepB (Twinrix) accelerated schedule of 3 doses at 0, 7, and 21–30 days, followed by a booster dose at 12 months
  • 4-dose series Engerix-B at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months for persons on adult hemodialysis (note: each dosage is double that of normal adult dose, i.e., 2 mL instead of 1 mL)

*Note: Heplisav-B not recommended in pregnancy due to lack of safety data in pregnant women

[AndiB 677]

2 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

It’s kinda complicated. But if you have at at least one dose close to your appointment and it is too soon for more, you get a waiver for “insufficient interval”. You won’t need more as long as you get signed off on all shots needed in London. If you wait (K1s can) then in the states, you could be due more shots because you would have to pay a new doctor and the time interval that was waived in London May be fine to get more by the time you see the new doctor called Civil Surgeon.

 

Following info is from CDC. I don’t know what brand(s) they use in the UK.

 

Hepatitis B vaccination

Routine vaccination

• Age 19 through 59 years: complete a 2- or 3-, or 4-dose series
  • 2-dose series only applies when 2 doses of Heplisav-B* are used at least 4 weeks apart
  • 3-dose series Engerix-B or Recombivax HB at 0, 1, 6 months [minimum intervals: dose 1 to dose 2: 4 weeks / dose 2 to dose 3: 8 weeks / dose 1 to dose 3: 16 weeks])
  • 3-dose series HepA-HepB (Twinrix at 0, 1, 6 months [minimum intervals: dose 1 to dose 2: 4 weeks / dose 2 to dose 3: 5 months])
  • 4-dose series HepA-HepB (Twinrix) accelerated schedule of 3 doses at 0, 7, and 21–30 days, followed by a booster dose at 12 months
  • 4-dose series Engerix-B at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months for persons on adult hemodialysis (note: each dosage is double that of normal adult dose, i.e., 2 mL instead of 1 mL)

*Note: Heplisav-B not recommended in pregnancy due to lack of safety data in pregnant women

thanks for info, my assumption was just getting all 3 may be best bet. Pricey but better than getting stuck needing them again in US. Ty

[Wuozopo 4,293]

14 minutes ago, AndiB said:

thanks for info, my assumption was just getting all 3 may be best bet. Pricey but better than getting stuck needing them again in US. Ty

You will have to wait out all the intervals for three shots and that might delay you some months. They give adult Hep B at the visa clinic. (£50-80) Or get one elsewhere less than 4 weeks from you appointment to get the insufficient time interval waiver. They try to tell K1s to just go back to your doctor and get it there. You may have to insist to them you want it at the clinic so you can get signed off on everything at your visit. Waiting on finishing immunisations is going to cause you hassle and money in the US.

[AndiB 677]

12 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

You will have to wait out all the intervals for three shots and that might delay you some months. They give adult Hep B at the visa clinic. (£50-80) Or get one elsewhere less than 4 weeks from you appointment to get the insufficient time interval waiver. They try to tell K1s to just go back to your doctor and get it there. You may have to insist to them you want it at the clinic so you can get signed off on everything at your visit. Waiting on finishing immunisations is going to cause you hassle and money in the US.

yeah, I'm going to start sorting it now. My NOA2 is currently only going to be around Jan 2024 so got time. I travel to S. Africa frequently so may see if I can get them free (SA is a risk country), if not...I'll start getting them private. Full 3 shots takes ~6months so won't put it off

[GxT 9]

My vaccination records (from the 1970s!) are not with my GP. They have requested the records from the PCSE - Primary Case Support England. If anyone will have all your records, I'm told it will be them. It takes 7 days for the PCSE to respond. You can't ask them yourself, you need to go via your GP. This is England - I don't know about other countries. 

 

Additionally, I asked the Knightsbridge Doctors/Visa Medicals place about vaccination requirements. I rang. They aren't allowed to tell you over the phone (some strange law no doubt) but I was sent a chart which lists them all and whether they are required. 

Here's the link to that chart (it's easier to view (for me) if opened in Acrobat: 

 

https://uk.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/11/vaccine_chart.pdf

 

This makes is quite clear that you DO NOT need the Hep B vaccine. This is for someone (me) on an IR1 in the UK. 

 

I'm not stating this is absolute fact but it seems to be from a reliable source and fairly clear. So worth double checking if you really do need the Hep B. 

 

Would be interested in any other views. 

[Chancy 6,243]

1 hour ago, GxT said:

This makes is quite clear that you DO NOT need the Hep B vaccine. This is for someone (me) on an IR1 in the UK. 

 

That list is outdated (seems to be from 2015).  Hep B vaccine is definitely required for IR1 visa applicant below 60 years old, regardless of country of origin.  Here's the updated vaccination table from the CDC -- https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/vaccinations.html#tbl1

 

[GxT 9]

Thank you very much. Seriously, these forums - and people like you - are life savers!!

 

Guess I’m off for my Hep B!

 

 

[bonkane 9]

3 hours ago, GxT said:

Thank you very much. Seriously, these forums - and people like you - are life savers!!

 

Guess I’m off for my Hep B!

 

 

I got that at the medical place it was easier!