Logan Reed
Keeping accurate and up-to-date records of vaccinations received is the responsibility of the individual. This is because finding old immunization information can be difficult and time-consuming, especially when moving between healthcare providers. While it is safe to repeat vaccines, it is not ideal. If personal records or doctor's records cannot be found, blood tests can be carried out to determine immunity to certain diseases. Self-reported doses of influenza and PPSV23 are acceptable, but all other vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccines, must be documented with a written, dated record.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Record-keeping responsibility | Individuals are responsible for keeping their own vaccination records. |
| Record retrieval | Records can be retrieved from parents or caregivers, baby books, schools, employers, doctors, public health clinics, and state health departments. |
| Record format | Records should be written and dated. |
| Record duplication | It is safe to repeat vaccines if records cannot be found. |
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What You'll Learn
Self-reported pneumococcal vaccine doses
Pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium with over 100 serotypes. The pneumococci bacteria are spread from person to person by droplets in the air and are commonly found in the human respiratory tract. The CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for children younger than five years old and adults 50 years or older. They also recommend vaccination for children and adults at increased risk of pneumococcal disease.
The CDC's pneumococcal vaccination recommendations vary based on age and risk factors. The type of vaccine and number of doses can depend on the patient's age and vaccination history. The CDC offers PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor, a free app that provides patient-specific pneumococcal vaccine guidance.
Providers and patients should verify which vaccines were received by checking medical records and the jurisdiction's immunization information system. Per the CDC's "General Best Practices Guidelines for Immunization", self-reported doses of influenza and PPSV23 are acceptable. If a patient recalls receiving PPSV23 after turning 65, this can be accepted, and a recommended pneumococcal conjugate vaccine option (PCV20 or PCV21) can be administered.
If vaccination records cannot be obtained, and the patient is uncertain about which vaccine they received, they may be classified as having an unknown vaccination history. In such cases, either PCV20 or PCV21 alone, or PCV15 followed by PPSV23 one year later, may be administered.
It is important for individuals to keep their own accurate and up-to-date records of vaccinations. This can save time and hassle in the long run, especially when changing healthcare providers. Individuals can ask their doctor, pharmacist, or vaccine provider for an immunization record form to fill out and store with other important documents.
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Record-keeping by doctors
Doctors are responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date vaccination records for their patients. While the length of time records are kept may vary depending on the doctor's office or clinic, it is generally recommended that records be kept for a limited number of years. Patients can request official copies of their vaccination records from their doctor or update their personal records if needed.
It is important for individuals to keep their own immunization records as well. This helps to ensure that their vaccination history is accurate and complete, especially if they change healthcare providers or move to a new location. Individuals can obtain immunization record forms from their doctor, pharmacist, or other vaccine providers, or they can download and use a standard form. It is recommended to bring this record to health visits and have the vaccine provider sign and date the form for each vaccine received.
In cases where vaccination records cannot be obtained or are uncertain, doctors may rely on self-reported vaccine doses from patients. According to the CDC "General Best Practices Guidelines for Immunization," self-reported doses of influenza and PPSV23 are acceptable. However, all other vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccines, must be documented with a written, dated record.
If an individual cannot find their personal records or records from their doctor, they may need to consider revaccination. While this is not ideal, it is safe to repeat vaccines. Doctors can also perform blood tests to determine immunity to certain vaccine-preventable diseases.
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Record-keeping by patients
It is important for patients to keep their own records of pneumococcal vaccinations, as finding old immunization information can be difficult and time-consuming. Official vaccination records can be requested from several sources, but these may not always be available. Patients should keep their own accurate and up-to-date records of the vaccinations they have received.
If you need official copies of vaccination records, or need to update your personal records, there are several places you can look. You can ask parents or caregivers for childhood immunization records, or look through baby books or other saved documents. High schools and colleges may have records of immunizations, but these are often only kept for 1-2 years after a student leaves. Previous employers may also have immunization records.
Doctors' offices and public health clinics will have vaccination records, but these are typically maintained for a limited number of years. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide you with an immunization record form, which you can bring to health visits to be signed and dated for each vaccine you receive. You can also download such a form.
Some states have registries (Immunization Information Systems) that include adult vaccines. In addition, the CDC “General Best Practices Guidelines for Immunization” states that self-reported doses of influenza and PPSV23 are acceptable. All other vaccines must be documented with a written, dated record. If vaccination records cannot be obtained, a patient may be classified as having an unknown vaccination history, and a recommended pneumococcal conjugate vaccine can be administered.
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Vaccination history unknown
If your vaccination history is unknown, you may need to get some vaccines again. While this is not ideal, it is safe to repeat vaccines. Doctors can also sometimes do blood tests to determine immunity to certain diseases.
It is important to keep an accurate and up-to-date record of the vaccinations you have received. You can ask your doctor, pharmacist, or other vaccine providers for an immunization record form. Bring this record with you to health visits, and ask your vaccine provider to sign and date the form for each vaccine you receive. If your vaccine provider participates in an immunization registry, ask that your vaccines be documented there as well.
If you need official copies of vaccination records, or if you need to update your personal records, there are several places you can look:
- Ask parents or other caregivers if they have records of your childhood immunizations.
- Try looking through baby books or other saved documents from your childhood.
- Check with your high school and/or college health services for dates of any immunizations. Keep in mind that generally, records are kept only for 1-2 years after students leave the system.
- Check with previous employers (including the military) that may have required immunizations.
- Check with your doctor or public health clinic. Keep in mind that vaccination records are maintained at the doctor's office for a limited number of years.
- Contact your state's health department. Some states have registries (Immunization Information Systems) that include adult vaccines.
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Immunization record forms
Your vaccination record, also known as your immunization record, is a crucial document that outlines your history of vaccinations, both as a child and adult. While there is no centralised system for maintaining vaccination records, with neither the CDC nor any other national organisation responsible for doing so, it is important for individuals to keep their own records up to date. This is because certain jobs, travel abroad, or school registrations may require proof of specific vaccinations.
To ensure your immunization record is accurate and current, you should keep a written, dated record of all the vaccines you receive. You can obtain an immunization record form from your doctor, pharmacist, or other vaccine providers, or download one online. It is recommended that you bring this form with you to any health visits, and ask your vaccine provider to sign and date the form for each vaccine administered.
Additionally, it is a good idea to store your immunization record form with other important documents or in a safe place. If you are unable to locate your personal records or those from your doctor, you may need to repeat certain vaccines. Although this is generally safe, it is not ideal. In some cases, your doctor may be able to perform a blood test to determine your immunity to specific diseases.
There are several places you can look to find your immunization record form if it has been misplaced. You can ask your parents or caregivers if they have records of your childhood immunizations, check through baby books or other saved documents from your childhood, or contact your high school or college health services for immunization dates. It is worth noting that records are typically kept for 1-2 years after a student leaves an educational institution, and a similar timeframe applies to doctor's offices and public health clinics.
If you are unable to locate your immunization record through the aforementioned methods, you can check with previous employers, including the military, who may have required immunizations. Alternatively, you can contact your state's health department, as some states maintain Immunization Information Systems that include adult vaccines.
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Frequently asked questions
Doctors and public health clinics keep records of pneumococcal vaccine recipients.
Doctors' offices maintain vaccination records for a limited number of years.
If you can't find your pneumococcal vaccination records, you may need to get some of the vaccines again. While this is not ideal, it is safe to repeat vaccines.
You can keep track of your pneumococcal vaccination records by storing them with other important documents or in a safe place. You can also use an immunization record form, which you can request from your doctor, pharmacist, or other vaccine providers.
Self-reported pneumococcal vaccinations are acceptable for influenza and PPSV23. All other vaccinations must be documented with a written, dated record.
