US Immigration Medical Exam: Do Adults Need Rotavirus and Hib Vaccines?
Based on CDC guidance, this article answers whether adults need rotavirus and Hib vaccines for the US immigration medical exam and outlines vaccine exemptions for age inappropriateness, contraindications, incomplete series, and flu season.
Previously, I introduced the requirements for the immigration medical exam, including vaccines for hepatitis, varicella, Covid-19, and others. Today, a reader asked via Telegram: "The immigration medical exam requires Rotavirus and Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) vaccines, but I looked it up and both are given to infants and not recommended for adults. Do I still have to get them for the immigration medical exam?"
Answer: No, because it is not age-appropriate.
The CDC's official explanation is here: there are four situations in the immigration medical exam where vaccine requirements can be waived:
- Not age-appropriate: the CDC specifically uses rotavirus and Hib vaccines as examples: "For example, if adults did not receive Hib or rotavirus vaccine as a child, they are not required to receive these vaccines as adults for status adjustment purposes."
- If you have a contraindication to a certain vaccine, the doctor will note it accordingly.
- Due to interval requirements, if you have only received the first dose and have not yet had the remaining second/third doses by the time of the exam, the doctor will note this accordingly. It is not considered a "failed medical exam," but you must complete the remaining doses later.
- Outside of flu season, the flu vaccine is not required (and not available even if you want it).
