If you want to update an incomplete IIS record, you can request immunization records from former health care providers, local health departments (city or county), or your state health department. The The CDC suggests checking with parents or caregivers (including reviewing stored files and baby books), schools or previous employers (including the military), doctors’ offices or health clinics, and health services state for immunization records. You can find additional tips for locate old vaccination records here. Once you locate additional records, you can ask your healthcare provider to update your records in your state’s IIS system.
Remember that IIS functionality varies by state: The advantage of IIS systems is that they host official records that are accessible to users, and vaccination data is automatically updated as long as the user remains in the state and does not opt out. However, some state systems provide limited access to immunization records, and most do not contain vaccines administered prior to exit from the system. Although IIS systems are bound by CDC privacy standards, users should review their state’s system and standards to decide whether the benefits of accessing official immunization data justify individual privacy concerns.
My home state of Maryland allows users to log in and request access to their data, but my current state of Texas requires users to mail, fax, or email a data request official, then wait for a paper copy of their vaccination record. In my case, it took a month.
While the Texas register securely consolidates and stores immunization records from multiple sources (health care providers, pharmacies, public health clinics, Medicaid claims administrators, state health departments, etc.) in a centralized system, it was designed so that only doctors, schools, daycares, public health care providers, and other authorized health care organizations can access it directly, and even then only for patients who have signed up . Texas vaccination records cannot be viewed online by the general public, including parents or legal guardians. However, many IIS systems and state pharmacies offer both online and mobile app access to your personal immunization history.
Start from zero: What if, like me, you can’t find your childhood vaccination record? According to the CDC, repeating vaccines is not ideal, but in some cases it may be appropriate. In some cases, blood tests may be done to determine your immunity to specific diseases and what vaccines you should receive as an adult, so discuss your options with your doctor.
How to store your recordings in the future
If you want your official immunization record kept and updated, the most logical option is to use your state’s IIS system. If this system does not meet your needs, there are also other options. Salley says, “It really comes down to who is responsible for maintaining medical records, the individual or the government? It is simple for the individual to follow the vaccines and beneficial for him to do so.
There are several mobile applications (SMART health card, Express Scriptsand Vaccination record register, for example) that store official vaccination data. Plus, you can always keep your own list of vaccination dates and locations in your phone’s notes section or in your contacts. Keep in mind, however, that although records of vaccination dates and vaccine providers kept by users are useful for reference, they are not official records. In addition to being verifiable, official vaccine documentation includes date of administration, manufacturer, vaccine lot number, administrator’s name and title, and facility address.