As immigration lawyers, we are happy to announce that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published a Final Notice in the Federal Register that eliminates the requirement for the Human Papilloma Virus and the Herpes Zoster vaccinations from those required for immigration purposes. The change is effective on December 13, 2009.

The CDC has changed the criteria for determining if a vaccination not listed in the Immigration and Nationality Act should be required as part of the medical exam required for immigrants. If the vaccine is not listed in the statute, it will only be required if it is age appropriate as recommended for the general US population and it either protects against a disease that has the potential to cause an outbreak, or protects against a disease that has been eliminated, or is in the process of being eliminated in the US.