Vaccines

How to Get Vaccine Records for School Enrollment

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Start with your child's pediatrician or family doctor — most practices can print an official immunization summary or send it straight to the school. If the record is incomplete, your state's immunization registry (IIS) is the next stop, reachable through the CDC's state directory at cdc.gov/iis. Missing doses can be given and documented in one visit; eligible uninsured and Medicaid-enrolled children get them free through the VFC program.

Last updated: July 2026History

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Step 1: Get an official immunization record from the doctor

Ask your pediatrician's or family medicine provider's office for an official immunization record printout, and say it is for school enrollment — some offices use a state-specific form. Most practices can send it through the patient portal, fax it to the school, or hand you a printed letter. This is the most complete source because providers record every vaccine they administer and often import records from prior providers 1.

If the records are not readily available at your current office — for example, because you recently switched providers — ask whether they can request a transfer from the previous practice. Many practices have a standard release-of-records process that takes only a few business days. If it is the card you have lost rather than the record, see how to replace a lost vaccination card.

Step 2: Check your state immunization registry (IIS)

To request a registry printout, contact your state health department's immunization program. Some states offer an online parent portal; others require a written request or an in-person visit. The CDC maintains a complete directory of all state IIS contacts at cdc.gov/iis 2, organized alphabetically by state and territory — searching "[your state] immunization registry" will also find the right page.

Every state runs an Immunization Information System (IIS): a confidential registry where providers and pharmacies report the vaccines they administer. That is why the registry can often fill in gaps after you change doctors, move, or lose paperwork 2, and why doses given at a pharmacy usually appear there too.

Step 3: Find out exactly what your school requires

School immunization requirements vary by state and by grade level. Contact the school's registrar or health office and ask for their specific immunization requirements checklist before the appointment.

Commonly required vaccines include chickenpox (varicella), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), polio, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP/Tdap), and hepatitis B — but the exact list, number of doses, and required timing differ by state and grade 3. Some states require meningococcal or HPV vaccines for middle school entry. Knowing exactly what is required before the appointment prevents surprises and avoids unnecessary additional doses.

What if vaccines are missing?

A clinician can review the immunization history, determine which vaccines are needed, administer them, and provide updated documentation in a single visit. Most schools allow a grace period or a catch-up schedule, especially if you can show a scheduled appointment or an active catch-up plan in progress. Contact the school to understand their specific grace-period policy.

If you do not have a regular provider, community health centers and local health department clinics can provide catch-up vaccines, often at low or no cost. The federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides free vaccines to eligible uninsured and Medicaid-enrolled children through age 18, through any participating provider 4.

What about medical exemptions?

Most states allow medical exemptions from school vaccine requirements when a licensed clinician documents a legitimate medical contraindication 3. Common contraindications include a documented severe allergic reaction to a vaccine component, or an immune-compromising condition that contraindicates a live vaccine such as MMR or varicella. Policies on non-medical (religious or philosophical) exemptions vary widely by state.

If you believe your child has a medical reason to skip a required vaccine, talk to a clinician — they can review the situation and, if warranted, provide the documentation your school requires. Do not attempt to write or modify an exemption form without clinical involvement; schools and state health departments verify these documents.

Common questions

Sometimes. Some states run an online parent portal for their immunization registry; others require a written request or an in-person visit. Your pediatrician's patient portal is often the faster route, since most practices can release an immunization summary electronically. If neither works, contact your state immunization program through the CDC's directory at cdc.gov/iis.

Possibly. If a record is genuinely unavailable for a specific vaccine, a titer blood test can check whether your child already has protective antibodies, and some schools accept documented immunity from a titer in place of a vaccine record. A clinician can order the test and help determine which doses, if any, still need to be given.

Yes. Requirements often change at kindergarten entry and again at middle school. Adolescent boosters — Tdap, meningococcal, and HPV — are typically required starting in middle school. Ask your school's health office for the grade-level requirements.

State registries only contain vaccines reported within that state. If you recently moved, your previous state's IIS may have the records — contact that registry using the CDC's IIS directory. That is also the backstop if your old practice has closed, since providers and pharmacies report the doses they give. Your previous pediatrician's office can also transfer records.

Vaccines given abroad may use different brand names or schedules. A clinician familiar with international vaccination records can determine what is equivalent to U.S. requirements and what catch-up may be needed. Uninsured eligible children can receive missing vaccines at no cost through the VFC program.

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Important notes for school enrollment

This article is general health information, not a personalized medical recommendation. Please consult your child's clinician and your school's health office for guidance specific to your child's health history and your state's requirements.

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References

  1. 1.Issa AN, Wodi AP, Moser CA, Cineas S (2025). Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger — United States, 2025. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7402a2 ✓Core childhood vaccines required for school enrollment including MMR, DTaP, polio, varicella, hepatitis B; catch-up immunization schedule
  2. 2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Contacts for IIS Immunization Records. CDC / Immunization Information Systems (IIS). link ✓State immunization information systems (IIS) as the source for locating official vaccination records; state-by-state contact directory
  3. 3.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). State Vaccination Requirements. CDC / Vaccines & Immunizations. link ✓State school vaccine requirements; grade-level checklists; exemption policies
  4. 4.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). About the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. CDC / VFC Program. link ✓VFC provides free ACIP-recommended vaccines to eligible children including uninsured and Medicaid-enrolled through age 18

4 sources, numbered by first appearance. General health information, not medical advice. AI-assisted editorial content — every citation independently verified. Editorial policy

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