Where to Get Immunization Records for School Enrollment

Where to look, in order

1. Your child's current pediatrician or primary care provider. The most complete and fastest source for most families. Request by phone, patient portal, or in person. Many practices can provide a printout the same day.

2. Your state's immunization information system (IIS). Every state maintains a registry of vaccine records that participating providers submit when shots are given 1Ref 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).Contacts for IIS Immunization Records — Immunization Information Systems (IIS).National directory of state immunization information system contacts; states maintain registries covering vaccines given by participating providers including pediatricians, health departments, and pharmacies; CDC does not hold individual records. The CDC maintains a national directory of state IIS contacts, including phone numbers and web portals, at cdc.gov/iis/contacts-locate-records 1Ref 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).Contacts for IIS Immunization Records — Immunization Information Systems (IIS).National directory of state immunization information system contacts; states maintain registries covering vaccines given by participating providers including pediatricians, health departments, and pharmacies; CDC does not hold individual records. The process varies by state: some allow immediate online access, others require a written request with proof of guardianship.

3. Previous pediatricians or clinics. If you have moved or changed providers, prior practices are required to retain records for several years. A medical records request will retrieve them 2Ref 2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (2023).Individuals' Right under HIPAA to Access Their Health Information — 45 CFR § 164.524.Parents and guardians have the right under HIPAA to access their minor child's medical records, including immunization records, from prior providers; covered entities (including practices that have closed or transferred records) must facilitate access.

4. Hospital birth records. If your child received vaccines at the birth hospital (such as the hepatitis B birth dose), the hospital's medical records department can provide that documentation 2Ref 2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (2023).Individuals' Right under HIPAA to Access Their Health Information — 45 CFR § 164.524.Parents and guardians have the right under HIPAA to access their minor child's medical records, including immunization records, from prior providers; covered entities (including practices that have closed or transferred records) must facilitate access.

5. Prior school or daycare files. Schools retain copies of records submitted at enrollment. This may not be current, but it can confirm baseline history.

What format does a school actually accept?

Most schools and daycares require an official record — typically a provider-generated printout or a document from the state registry, listing the vaccine name and the date given. Some schools accept a patient portal printout. Many do not accept the yellow shot card parents receive at visits as the sole documentation.

Check with the school registrar before the appointment to confirm what format is required. If the school needs a specific state form, ask the clinician's office to complete it at the visit rather than requesting a modification afterward.

What if vaccines are missing or gaps show up?

A gap in the record can mean several things: the vaccine was given but not entered in the system, it was genuinely missed, or the documentation was lost. A clinician can review the record and determine what — if anything — still needs to be given.

In some cases, a blood test (antibody titer) can stand in for a missing vaccine record when original documentation cannot be found — though the CDC notes that repeating vaccines is generally safe when records are unavailable 3Ref 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025).Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (Updated July 2, 2025).Standard childhood immunization schedule with catch-up guidance; repeating vaccines when records are unavailable is generally safe; defines which vaccines are required and at what ages. Catch-up vaccines can usually be obtained on short notice from your pediatrician or a local public health clinic.

The CDC's childhood immunization schedule, updated through 2025, identifies the standard vaccines required and the catch-up guidance for children who are behind 3Ref 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025).Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (Updated July 2, 2025).Standard childhood immunization schedule with catch-up guidance; repeating vaccines when records are unavailable is generally safe; defines which vaccines are required and at what ages.

What about exemptions instead of records?

If you are seeking a medical exemption rather than records, the process varies significantly by state. Medical exemptions require a licensed clinician to document a recognized contraindication. Religious and personal belief exemptions vary widely — some states no longer allow them.

The school registrar or your state health department website is the authoritative source for current exemption rules in your state.