JANUARY 2001
Recent changes to United States immigration law now require immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations (listed below) prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrant visa applicants are now required to verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the new vaccination requirement, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations:
-- mumps
-- measles
-- rubella
-- polio
-- tetanus and diphtheria toxoids
-- pertussis
-- influenza type b (Hib)
-- hepatitis B
-- varicella (not available in the Netherlands)
-- pneumococcal and
-- influenza.
In order to assist the panel physician, and to avoid delays in the processing of an immigrant visa, all immigrant visa applicants should have their vaccination records available for the panel physician's review at the time of the immigrant medical examination. Visa applicants should consult with their regular health care provider to obtain a copy of their immunization record, if one is available. If you do not have a vaccination record, the panel physician will work with you to determine which vaccinations you may need to meet the requirement. Certain waivers of the vaccination requirement are available upon the recommendation of the panel physician.
Only a physician can determine which of the listed vaccinations are medically appropriate for you, given your age, medical history and current medical condition.
The following table is based on the vaccinations commonly administered in the Netherlands.
| When you are age | You may need these vaccinations: |
| Birth-1 month | - / - / Hepatitis B |
| 2-11 months | DKTP / Hib / Hepatitis B |
| 12 months - 4 years | DKTP / Hib / Hepatitis B / BMR** |
| 5-6 years | DKTP / - / Hepatitis B / BMR** |
| 7-17 years | DTP* / - / Hepatitis B / BMR** |
| 18-64 years | DTP* / - / - / BMR** if born after 1956 |
| 65 years and older | DTP* / - / - / - / Pneumococcal / Influenza *** |
DKTP = Diphteria, Pertussis (kinkhoest),
Tetanus and Polio
DTP = Diphteria,
Tetanus and Polio
BMR = Mumps (bof), Measles
and Rubella
HIB = Haemophilis
influenza type b (hersenvliesontsteking)
A vaccine against Varicella (waterpokken) is not available in the Netherlands.
* Applicants over 7 years of age who have previously had DKTP or DTP vaccinations should get a tetanus and diptheria booster if not given in the last 10 years. Polio vaccine only required once.
** If administered before 12 months of age, repeat one dose.
*** Only when in season i.e. October through January.
The cost of the vaccines range from about f.35,-- to about f. 95,--
(Source: Amsterdam Consulate General June 1997 received as Part of package 3 in Jan 2001)
About Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance