For Ukrainians who have moved to Edmonton, one of the important tasks upon arrival is to document and verify their vaccination history. Alberta's healthcare system, managed by Alberta Health Services (AHS), recognizes vaccines administered in Ukraine, but requires a specific verification and documentation procedure. Understanding this process is important so that you can easily integrate into the Canadian healthcare system and so that your children can attend school and receive the necessary healthcare services.
It is important to know that Alberta has a special program for Ukrainian evacuees that provides medical services, including verification of vaccination records, at no cost at the time of service. This means that regardless of your immigration status or the size of your savings, you can get help to verify and document your vaccination records.
Types of Ukrainian vaccination documents recognized in Edmonton
The first step in the process of verifying your vaccination history is to understand what documents are considered official vaccination records in Ukraine. Unlike some countries, Ukraine does not issue a universal national vaccination card, so vaccination records can take different forms depending on the clinic and the time of vaccination.
The main official vaccination documents from Ukraine include:
One of the most common documents is called the “Preventive Vaccination Card” (form No. 063/o), which is a specialized document designed specifically for recording vaccination information. This document usually contains a table format in which the dates of vaccinations, vaccine names, batch numbers, and signatures of medical professionals who administered the vaccines are recorded.
“Child Development History” (form No. 112/o) is a comprehensive document used to obtain information about a child's health and development throughout their life. This document usually contains a section on vaccination, where all vaccinations are recorded.
“Outpatient sheet” or “Dispensary sheet” (form No. 025/o) — a document used in Ukrainian polyclinics and medical and preventive institutions to keep track of a patient's health history. This document may also contain information about vaccinations.
Digital records from the ESOS system — this is Ukraine's electronic health system, which stores vaccination records in digital format. If you have access to this system, you can obtain an official extract from your vaccination records.
International vaccination certificate — a document issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is recognized in most countries around the world. If you have this document, it will greatly simplify the verification process.
Digital COVID certificate from the DIIA app is an electronic document issued through the DIIA mobile app that can contain information about COVID-19 and other vaccinations.
All of these documents must have official seals from the clinic or medical facility, addresses, and other official markers that indicate their authenticity.
How to obtain a copy of your vaccination history from Ukraine
If you have already moved to Edmonton but do not have a copy of your vaccination records from Ukraine with you, there are several ways to obtain this information remotely.
Contact clinics and medical facilities in Ukraine
If you know which clinic you were vaccinated at in Ukraine, you can contact that clinic directly. Making this contact may be difficult due to the current situation in Ukraine, but many medical facilities in Ukraine can send you a copy of your vaccination records by email or postal service.
Using the DIIA system to obtain a COVID certificate
If you have a smartphone with internet access, you can download the DIIA mobile app if you are leaving Ukraine, or visit the DIIA web portal via a web browser. On the DIIA portal, you can find the “Vaccination Certificate” or “COVID Certificate” section and request a digital copy of your vaccination history.
To access DIIA, you need to:
Download the DIIA mobile app or go to the web portal diia.gov.ua
Log in with your profile (usually using your Ukrainian passport or ID card)
Select the “COVID Certificate” or “Vaccination Certificate” service
Request the certificate to be generated
Sign the document with a qualified electronic signature
Download the certificate in PDF format
The digital certificate from DIIA can be printed or saved as a PDF and mailed to Edmonton or shown to healthcare professionals during an appointment in Alberta.
Contact Ukrainian doctors through the ESOS
If you know your family doctor in Ukraine or have access to an account in the ESOS system, you can request an official extract from your vaccination records from your doctor. This extract can be signed with an electronic signature or printed and copied.
The process of submitting and verifying Ukrainian vaccination records in Edmonton
Once you arrive in Edmonton, the next step is to formally submit your vaccination records to Alberta Health Services for verification and recognition.
Step 1: Contact public health authorities
The easiest way to get help verifying your vaccination history is to contact your local public health centre in Edmonton. Alberta Health Services operates several public health centres where you can get help verifying and processing your vaccination records.
You can contact your local public health centre or call Health Link at 811 to ask about vaccination record verification services. Health Link is available 24/7 and offers translation services for Ukrainian.
Step 2: Prepare your documents
When you visit a health care facility in Edmonton, it is important to bring the following with you:
Original vaccination records from Ukraine, if you have them. If you do not have the originals, bring copies, scans, or digital photos of the documents.
Translation of vaccination documents into English. If you have a translation, bring both the original and the translated document so that medical staff can compare them for verification.
Valid identification. Bring your passport, ID card, or any other official document that proves your identity and confirms the information recorded in your vaccination documents.
Your Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) card, if you already have one. If you do not yet have an AHCIP card, medical staff can help you start the application process.
Step 3: Fill out forms and questionnaires
During your appointment at the public health center, medical staff will ask you to fill out forms that document your vaccination history. These forms may include questions about the vaccines you have received, the dates of your vaccinations, the names of the vaccines, and any side effects or reactions you have had.
Medical staff will also review your vaccination records and transfer the information to the Alberta Health Services system.
Step 4: Verification of document authenticity
Healthcare professionals in Alberta are trained to recognize official Ukrainian vaccination documents. They check the documents for official stamps, facility addresses, healthcare worker signatures, and other signs of authenticity.
If the documents appear to be authentic, the medical staff will enter the vaccination information into the Alberta Health Services system. If there are doubts about authenticity, the medical staff may request additional documentation or contact the clinic in Ukraine for verification.
Understanding Ukrainian vaccination document forms
When preparing your vaccination documents for submission in Edmonton, it is important to understand the structure and format of Ukrainian documents, as they may differ significantly from Canadian records.
Date format in Ukrainian documents
One of the most common sources of confusion when verifying Ukrainian vaccination records is the date format. Unlike the US, which uses the MM/DD/YY format, Ukraine and most European countries use the DD/MM/YY format. For example, if a vaccination was administered on March 15, 2020, it would be recorded as 15/03/20 in Ukraine, while in the US it would be recorded as 03/15/20.
This can lead to serious errors in processing if medical staff do not pay attention to this difference.
Vaccine names in Ukrainian documents
Vaccine names in Ukrainian documents may be written in Ukrainian or Russian, and sometimes abbreviated. For example:
DTaP is an abbreviation for the combined vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (known as DTaP in the US)
OPV is an abbreviation for the oral polio vaccine
BCG is an abbreviation for the Calmette-Guérin vaccine, which protects against tuberculosis
HAV Hepatitis B is the vaccine against hepatitis B
HAV Hepatitis A is the vaccine against hepatitis A
Healthcare workers in Edmonton should have a reference guide to help them translate these abbreviations into their Canadian equivalents.
Stamps and signatures
Official Ukrainian vaccination documents usually have the stamp of the health care facility, the form number (e.g., 063/о), the address of the facility, and the signatures of the health care workers who administered the vaccines. If the document does not have these features, it may be considered unofficial.
Translation of Ukrainian vaccination documents
If your vaccination documents are written in Ukrainian, you will need to have them translated into English for submission in Alberta.
Professional translation
There are two types of translations: professional translators who offer certified translations and unofficial translators. Professional certified translations are generally required for medical documents in Canada.
Professional translation services for Ukrainian-language vaccination documents are available from many companies in Edmonton and online. The typical cost of such a translation is between $24 and $50 per page, and the turnaround time is between 24 hours and 1 week.
When you order a translation, it is important to ensure that:
The translation is done by a professional translator who is a native speaker and has experience translating medical documents
The translation is accompanied by a translation certificate signed by the translator and including the date and signature
The original document and the translation are provided together
When you submit your translation to the Edmonton Public Health Centre, medical staff will compare the original document and the translation to ensure the translation is accurate.
Informal translation
In some cases, when you are working with staff at the Public Health Centre, you may be asked to provide an informal translation of your document. In this case, medical staff or someone who speaks Ukrainian can help you translate the document on the spot.
Entering vaccination information into the Alberta Health Services system
Once your vaccination documents have been verified and translated, medical staff will enter the vaccination information into the Alberta Health Services system.
MyHealth Records
Once your vaccination information has been entered into the AHS system, you will be able to access it through MyHealth Records. MyHealth Records is an online tool that allows Albertans aged 14 and older to view their health records, including vaccination records.
To access MyHealth Records:
Go to myhealth.alberta.ca
Create an Alberta.ca account if you don't already have one
Log in to MyHealth Records
Go to the “Immunization” or “Vaccinations” section
View your vaccination records
In MyHealth Records, you will be able to see your vaccination dates, vaccine names, and other details about your vaccination history.
Processing time
The time it takes to enter your vaccination information into the AHS system may vary depending on the workload of the public health center and the complexity of your documents. It usually takes 1 to 4 weeks.
Special procedures for Ukrainian evacuees
If you arrived in Alberta as a Ukrainian evacuee under special support programs for Ukrainians, there are special procedures for verifying your vaccination history.
Ukrainian Emergency Health Benefits Program
Ukrainian evacuees may be eligible to participate in the Ukrainian Emergency Health Benefits Program (UETHBP). This program provides health services, including verification of vaccination records, at no cost at the time of service.
If you are a participant in this program, you must show your CUAET (Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel) document or other official documentation when visiting a public health centre.
Immunization assessment as part of the medical examination upon arrival
Ukrainian evacuees must undergo a medical examination upon arrival in Alberta. As part of this examination, a public health nurse will check your vaccination history and offer you vaccinations for diseases against which you are not protected.
During this assessment:
The public health nurse will ask for your original vaccination records from Ukraine
The public health nurse will compare your vaccination records with the Canadian routine immunization schedule
The public health nurse will determine which vaccines you need to be fully immunized according to Canadian standards
The nurse will offer you vaccinations if you need them
Frequently asked questions and issues with verifying Ukrainian vaccination records
What if I have lost my vaccination records?
If you have lost your vaccination records from Ukraine, there is no need to panic. You can try to obtain new copies by contacting the clinic where you were vaccinated or by using the DIIA system. If you are unable to obtain your original records, Alberta will recognize that you may be revaccinated according to the Canadian routine immunization schedule.
Will my Ukrainian vaccines be recognized by Alberta Health Services?
Yes, Alberta will recognize vaccines administered in Ukraine if they have official documentation and appear to be authentic. However, medical staff will review your records and compare them to the Canadian immunization schedule. If there is any doubt about whether a particular vaccine was administered or if the records are incomplete, you may be offered revaccination or antibody testing.
Do I need to get all my vaccines redone?
No, you do not need to get all your vaccines again. If your vaccination records are deemed authentic, this will be documented in the AHS system and you will not need to repeat the vaccinations you have already received. However, if some vaccines were administered many years ago, you may be offered booster doses or revaccination for certain diseases.
How long does the verification process take?
The time required to verify your vaccination records depends on the complexity of the documents and the workload of the public health center. It usually takes 1 to 4 weeks. If the documents need to be translated, it may take a little longer.
Where can I get my vaccination documents translated?
There are many professional translation services in Edmonton that can translate your vaccination documents from Ukrainian into English. You can also ask for help at the public health centre, as some clinics have Ukrainian-speaking staff who can help you with the translation.
Tips for Ukrainians when verifying their vaccination history
When you are preparing to submit your vaccination history in Edmonton, follow these tips for a smoother process:
Keep your original documents
If you have original vaccination documents from Ukraine, keep them in a safe place, such as a folder with important documents. Make several copies and store them in different locations, including digital copies in cloud storage.
Get a translation in advance
If possible, get a professional translation of your vaccination documents before contacting the public health center. This will speed up the verification process and avoid delays.
Keep records of all vaccinations
If you have been vaccinated at different clinics in Ukraine, try to collect records from all of these clinics. This will help you have a complete vaccination history.
Contact Health Link for help
If you have questions about the vaccination verification process or need help with translation, don't hesitate to contact Health Link at 811. The service is available 24/7 and offers translation for Ukrainian languages.
Make an appointment with a public health nurse
Make an appointment with a public health nurse to discuss your vaccination history. The nurse can help you understand the verification process and give you recommendations on any additional vaccinations you may need.
Completing the verification process
The process of verifying vaccination history from Ukraine in Edmonton may seem complicated, but the Alberta Health Services system is designed to recognize vaccines administered in other countries and integrate them into the Canadian vaccination schedule. By following these steps and seeking assistance from your local public health centers, you can successfully document and verify your vaccination history in your new home.