Keeping up-to-date vaccination records for your family, especially your children, is important. You will need your children’s records to register them for school, child care, athletic teams, and summer camps, and to travel.
Immunization Information Systems (IIS)
When you or someone in your family gets a vaccine, information about that vaccine may be added to your state’s immunization information system (IIS). IIS, also known as immunization registries, are databases that have information on the vaccines that have been given to individuals. Your doctor, health department, clinic, and/or possibly pharmacist may use their local IIS to help keep track of their patients’ immunizations. The information in the IIS is kept confidential, and only authorized users are able to access the data in the IIS.
Every state in the U.S., and some large cities, have their own IIS. All states collect data on child vaccinations to put into the IIS (though the cut-off age varies by state) and most states now also record adult immunizations in their IIS.
One of the main uses of the IIS is to make sure that children have all of their immunizations and that the information is available when their healthcare providers need it. Another purpose of the IIS to help maintain an accurate record of a patient’s immunization history throughout their lifetime, even if they received vaccines in different places. IIS also help public health to keep track of vaccinations provided in the city/state to help purchase needed vaccines, control vaccine-preventable diseases, and avoid disease outbreaks.
Click the questions below to find out more about Immunization Information Systems (IIS)
What are the benefits of having everyone in my family's vaccine records saved in an IIS?
- Helps to make sure that your family doesn’t miss any recommended vaccines or need to be revaccinated if their records get lost
- Can send reminders when you or your family members need vaccines, usually through phone, text or mail
- Allows you to quickly get a copy of your and/or your child’s vaccination record from the healthcare provider
- Makes sure your child has all of the vaccines needed to start daycare, school and camp, or to travel
What information is in an IIS?
The information stored in an IIS is different in every state, but most contain at least the following information:
- Patient’s name (first, middle, and last)
- Patient’s birth date
- Patient’s gender (male or female)
- Patient’s birth state/country
- Mother’s name
- Types of vaccines given
- Dates the vaccines were given
How is my family's information in the IIS kept private?
Only authorized users have access to your family’s information in your state’s IIS. Exactly who is authorized to access the IIS (i.e., public health, healthcare providers, school nurses, WIC staff, etc.) varies state to state. Users of an IIS must sign an agreement and follow strict confidentiality and security policies.
Does it cost any money to have my family's vaccination records in my state’s IIS?
No, there is no cost to a parent/patient to participate in an IIS.
How can I find out if my family's healthcare provider(s) are participating in the IIS?
Just ask your healthcare provider if they use the state (or city) IIS. You can also contact the personel who run the IIS in your state to find out if your doctor(s) participates.
Who do I contact to see if my family's vaccination records are in an IIS?
You can ask your healthcare provider or your state health department to see if your family’s immunization records are in your state’s IIS. You can also contact your state IIS directly to see if your/your children’s vaccination records are there.
How do I get an official copy of my, or my children's, vaccination records?
If you need official copies of immunization records for yourself and/or your children, or if you are trying to update your family’s personal records, there are several places you can look:
- Check with your doctor/health clinic or your children’s doctor(s)/health clinic(s).
- Check with your state’s health department. You can:
- Request a copy of your and/or your children’s immunization records.
- Ask if your and/or your children’s immunization records are in the IIS
- Contact the IIS in the state where you/your children received your most recent vaccinations to see if records exist and to request official copies. Some states even allow the individuals to directly access the IIS in order to print out their own vaccination records.
- Check with your children’s school(s). Some schools keep on file the immunization records of children who attended. However, schools generally keep these records for only a year or two after the student graduates, transfers to another school or leaves the school system.
- Check with your/your children’s college(s) medical/student health services. Many colleges provide vaccinations, especially if the vaccines are required for enrollment.
- If you are an adult, ask your parents or other caregivers if they have records of your childhood immunizations. You can also look through baby books or other documents from your childhood.
- If you are an adult, check with your previous employers (including the military) that may have required vaccinations.
What should I do about vaccination records if I am fostering or adopting a child?
You should ask your adoption care coordinator or social worker for the child’s vaccination’s records. An internationally-adopted child should be considered susceptible to disease and should be vaccinated (or revaccinated) against vaccine-preventable diseases if the immunizations records are lost, incomplete, difficult to understand, or if you or the child’s healthcare provider is not sure that they are accurate.
View the 2018 Binational Immunization Tool for Children from Birth Through 18 Years Old (Mexico and U.S.)
