Keeping Track of Vaccinations for Kids and Adults

Vaccinations are important for your children’s health, and for your own. They were made to protect everyone from communicable diseases, some of which can be deadly. Vaccinations are also an important part of your healthcare history, so you should keep careful records of all vaccines that you and your children receive.

Why You Need Vaccination Records

Many states require children to have vaccinations before they can attend school or play sports. Schools will need copies of their records to verify their vaccine history. Records are also very important if you switch pediatricians, or if your child needs to see a specialist for any reason.

Adults also need to keep their vaccination records—for both their childhood vaccinations and those received in adulthood. It’s important for your healthcare providers to have that information, but you also may need certain vaccinations to travel internationally. Jobs in certain fields may also have vaccine requirements.

Keeping Track of Vaccinations

Each time your child gets a vaccination, ask your pediatrician for a document to verify that they received it. You should keep these documents in a safe location. You can also purchase a vaccine ledger to keep track. Do the same for your own vaccination records.

Additionally, your state may have a registry for vaccination records. Ask your pediatrician if they record vaccinations in your state’s vaccination information system. If so, you’ll know where to get an official record of your child’s vaccinations should you ever need them.

Finding Vaccination Records

If you don’t have records of your child’s vaccinations, you should be able to get them from their pediatrician, although some doctors only keep records for a few years. You can also try to get them from your state’s registry.

To find your own vaccination records, check with your parents to see if they kept them. Yours may also be in your state’s registry.

CDC Recommended Vaccinations for Children

The CDC makes vaccine recommendations by age. Each state, however, has their own requirements for vaccines to attend school. The CDC recommendations are broader and designed to protect all people from a wider range of communicable diseases.

Birth

Within 24 hours of birth, your baby should get the 1^st dose of 3 of the hepatitis B vaccine. Hepatitis B can be passed from the mother to the baby without the mother’s knowledge, and can cause serious liver problems.

The Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine should be given during the RSV season, which is fall through spring, before your baby is 8 months old.

1 to 2 months

At 1 to 2 months your baby should receive the following vaccines:

• DTaP vaccine, 1^st dose of 5, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis)
• Hib vaccine, 1^st dose of 4, protects against Hib disease which can cause lifelong disability or death
• Hepatitis B vaccine, 2^nd dose
• IPV, 1^st dose of 4, protects against polio
• PCV, 1^st dose of 4, protects against pneumococcal disease
• Rotavirus vaccine, 1^st dose of 3

4 months

• DtaP, 2^nd dose of 5
• Hib, 2^nd dose of 4
• IPV, 2^nd dose of 4
• PCV, 2^nd dose of 4
• Rotavirus, 2^nd dose of 3

6 months

• COVID-19
• DTaP, 3^rd dose of 5
• Hib, 3^rd dose of 4
• Hepatitis B, 3^rd dose of 3
• IPV, 3^rd dose of 4
• PCV, 3^rd dose of 4
• Rotavirus, 3^rd dose of 3

7 through 11 months

At 7 through 11 months, the only recommended vaccine is the flu vaccine, which should be given during flu season each year.

12 through 23 months

• Chickenpox, 1^st dose of 2
• DTaP, 4th dose of 5
• Hepatitis A, 1st dose of 2
• Hib, 4^th dose of 4
• MMR vaccine, 1^st dose of 2, protects against measles, mumps, and rubella
• PCV, 4^th dose of 4

2 to 3 years

The only recommended vaccine is the flu vaccine.

4 to 6 years

• Chickenpox, 2^nd dose of 2
• DTaP, 5^th dose of 5
• IPV, 4^th dose of 4
• MMR, 2^nd dose of 2

7 to 10 years

The only recommended vaccine is the flu vaccine.

11 to 12 years

• HPV vaccine, 2 doses 6 to 12 months apart, protects against human papillomavirus, which can lead to cancers later in life
• MenACWY vaccine, 1^st dose of 2, protects against four types of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease, which can be deadly
• Tdap booster, protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough

13 to 18 years

• MenACWY vaccine, 2^nd dose of 2
• MenB vaccine, protects against one type of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease

 

CDC Recommended Vaccinations for Adults

Certain vaccines are important for adults to get as well. First, adults should check to make sure that they received all recommended childhood vaccines.

Young adults should also get a second COVID-19 vaccine, even if they had one as a child.

At 50 or older, adults should get the shingles vaccine, and after 60, should get the RSV vaccine because adults over 60 are at higher risk for RSV.

Everyone should also have an annual flu shot. Additionally, you should check with your doctor periodically to see if any new vaccines are recommended.

In Closing

As you can see, there are quite a few vaccines to keep track of, for both you and your children. Keeping all your records in one location can help you to have them handy whenever you need them, whether for school or for travel.

If you or your child need vaccinations, Health Service Alliance is here to help, regardless of your ability to pay. Your family’s health is our priority, so give us a call today.