Records
FAQs
on Immunization
Records
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At
a glance: In most parts of the
U.S. there are no central repositories
of vaccination records. The only records
that exist are the one you or your parents
were given when the vaccines were administered,
and the one in the medical record of
the doctor or clinic where the vaccines
were given.
Below
are answers to common questions about
where you might look for immunization
records, forms for tracking your vaccinations,
etc. |
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Contents
of this page:
- Where
can I get my (or my child's) immunization
records?
- Where
can I look for any existing immunization
records?
- Should
I track my (or my child's) vaccinations?
- What
are Immunization Registries and who benefits
from them?
- Why
doesn't the Immunization Registry system
provide quick, universal access to immunization
records?
- How
do I go about recording vaccinations?
Updated!
Related
web pages:
- Where
can I get my (or my child's) immunization
records?
There
is no central repository of vaccination
records. The only records that exist are
the ones you or your parents were given
when the vaccines were administered, and
the ones in the medical record of the doctor
or clinic where the vaccines were given.
Sometimes schools hold the vaccination
records of children who attended, but these
records are usually not kept for more than
a year or two.
If
you cannot locate your personal record
or the record from your doctor, it may
be necessary to repeat some of the vaccines
or arrange blood tests to determine your
immunity.
- Where
can I look for existing immunization records?
Children's
records |
- Try
calling your local
or state health department's
immunization program.
- Sometimes
schools hold the vaccination records
of children who attended, but these
records are generally not kept
for more than a year or two or,
at the longest, until graduation.
After a student graduates, records
are sent to storage and may not
be accessible.
- Look
for family records such as a baby
book.
- Check
for records with your doctor or
public health clinic. Please keep
in mind, however, that immunization
records are maintained for a limited
number of years, and then usually
only by the medical provider who
actually administered the vaccines.
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College
students |
- Many
colleges provide vaccinations (often,
certain vaccinations are required
for enrollment). Contact your college's
medical services department (student
health) for further information.
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Military
personnel |
- Check
your military records.
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- Should
I track my (or my child's) vaccinations?
Yes,
you really should create and keep these
records. In most states, it is the responsibility
of the parents of school-aged children,
not family doctors, to provide vaccination
records to the health department and to
schools.
Today
we move, travel, and change health providers
more than we did in previous generations.
Also, doctor's offices and clinics store
records of children's vaccinations and
the dates they were received only for a
few years. If you keep an accurate record,
you will be more likely to remember when
to bring your children in for the next
visit. These records also can prove that
your children are up to date with their
immunizations. In most states, children
are not allowed to enter school or childcare
unless they can prove that they meet all
school
immunization requirements.
Your doctor or clinic will be happy to give
you an immunization record form for your
use. Bring this record with you whenever
you take your child to the doctor or clinic,
and ask the doctor to sign and date the form
each time a vaccination is given. That way,
you can be sure that the immunization information
is current and correct.
Finally,
make sure you know if your doctor participates
in an immunization
registry. However, keep in mind tha very
few registries existed prior to the mid-1990's.
- What
are Immunization Registries and who benefits
from them?
Immunization
registries are computerized information
systems that collect vaccination histories
and help ensure correct and timely immunizations,
especially for children.
Healthcare
Providers use registries to |
-
obtain a complete, accurate immunization
history
for a new or continuing patient
-
produce official immunization records
-
reduce paperwork
- manage
vaccine inventories
- introduce
new vaccines or changes in the vaccination
schedule
- help
interpret the complex immunization
schedule
-
provide coverage data for health
insurance plans
and other national organizations
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Communities
use registries to |
-
identify populations at high risk
for vaccine preventable diseases
-
target immunization interventions
and resources efficiently
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Parents
working with their healthcare
providers, can
use registries systems to |
-
be notified when immunizations are
due or late
- obtain
an accurate, official immunization
history for
personal use and for daycare, school,
or camp entry requirements
- consolidate
records for all immunizations a child
has received
- help
ensure that a child's immunizations
are up to date
- help
ensure timely immunization for children
if
families move or switch healthcare
providers
- prevent
unnecessary (duplicative) immunization
Note:
No
universal registry system now exists.
Registries in one state or area may
not be compatible with other registries,
and information may have to be manually
transferred from registry to registry.
Also, to protect personal information
in registries, this information cannot
be directly retrieved by individuals.
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To
learn more about Immunization Registries
and ensuring the confidentiality of registry
information, consult the Immunization Registries
area of the National Immunization Program's
web site at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/registry/ir.htm
- Why
doesn't the Immunization Registry system
provide quick universal access to individual
records?
Although
many individual health practices and health
plans use information systems to track
patient immunizations, these site- or plan-specific
registries include only immunizations administered
by participating providers to covered patients.
At this time, no single registry can provide
information for all children and all doses
of vaccines administered by all providers,
and no registry can be accessible to all
providers and parents. Federal regulations
to ensure the confidentially of these medical
records also prevent or discourage national
central storage and direct access to health
records, including immunization records.
States and areas that administer immunization
registries also enforce standards and procedures
to protect confidentiality and to secure
stored information, particularly electronic
information. Consequently, regulations
for information access and retrieval vary
by state and location.
- How
do I go about recording my vaccinations?
The
printable (.pdf) documents listed here
include instructions and sample records
for documenting the administration of vaccines,
including combination vaccines.
*
Note: The .pdf versions
of these items are formatted for reproduction
on an office printer. However, you need Adobe
Acrobat Reader software to view and print
them. The .html web page versions
contain the same full text as the .pdf version,
but without some of the formatting and detailed
instructions.
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