What Happens If I Need a Multi-Dose Vaccine Series for Immigration?
Quick Answer
If you need a multi-dose vaccine series, you will need multiple appointments to complete the series. Form I-693 cannot be finalized until all required doses are administered. The hepatitis B series takes up to 6 months; the HPV series takes several months. Plan your timeline accordingly.
Multi-Dose Vaccine Series for Immigration
Several vaccines required for immigration are given as a series of multiple doses over time. The most common multi-dose series encountered in immigration medical exams include the hepatitis B series (3 doses), the HPV series (2–3 doses), the varicella series (2 doses), and the MMR series (2 doses). When you need one of these series, you will need to return for follow-up appointments to receive subsequent doses.
Hepatitis B Series: Up to 6 Months
The standard hepatitis B vaccine series consists of 3 doses: dose 1 at the initial appointment, dose 2 at least 4 weeks later, and dose 3 at least 8 weeks after dose 2 and at least 16 weeks after dose 1. The full series takes a minimum of approximately 4–6 months to complete. An accelerated schedule (0, 1, 2 months with a booster at 12 months) is available with Engerix-B. A 2-dose series using Heplisav-B (given 4 weeks apart) is available for adults 18 and older and significantly shortens the timeline.
HPV Series: 2–6 Months
The HPV vaccine series requires 2 doses (for those who start before age 15) or 3 doses (for those who start at age 15 or older). For a 2-dose series, the second dose is given 6–12 months after the first. For a 3-dose series, the second dose is given 1–2 months after the first, and the third dose is given 6 months after the first. The timeline for completing the HPV series ranges from approximately 2 to 6 months.
How Follow-Up Appointments Work
After your initial immigration medical exam, the civil surgeon will schedule follow-up appointments for subsequent vaccine doses. At each follow-up appointment, you will receive the next dose in the series. Once all required doses have been administered, the civil surgeon can finalize Form I-693. Our office will track your vaccination schedule and remind you when your next dose is due.
Effect on Form I-693 Completion Timeline
Form I-693 cannot be signed and sealed until all required vaccines have been administered. If you need a multi-dose series, this will delay the completion of your form. For example, if you need the full hepatitis B series, you should expect your Form I-693 to take at least 4–6 months to complete. If you have an upcoming immigration deadline, schedule your exam as early as possible and inform the civil surgeon of your timeline so that the most efficient vaccination schedule can be arranged.
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