Immunization Record

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Specializes in LTC.

Hello all. Does anyone happen to know how long high schools keep immunization records? I graduated way back in 1990 and I'm hoping the district office still has a copy of mine. I tried to call the records department all day to no avail. I know they keep the academic transcripts for 75 years according to their website. I'm just not sure if the shot record is kept with them. I really don't have the money to throw away on shots that I KNOW I've received. MMR, etc. Thanks in advance for replies. :)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Do you have insurance that covers titers? Is your pediatrician still in practice ?

Most schools won't keep standard health records that long but it's possible.

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Specializes in LTC.

Heya. Thanks for responding. I'm currently not working and just going to school. I was thinking about maybe trying the health department in my area and seeing what the rates are. I just found a place 40 miles from me that can do MMR and Varicella titers both for $189.00 total. I may need to go that route if my old school district no longer has them. Or maybe the health department in the county where I was born could possibly have a copy of my shot record. I know that if I get the MMR injections, I'll have to wait 4 weeks in between shots. My records were in a sentry fire safe and the whole safe was stolen. They're gonna be disappointed if they finally get it open only to find an immunization record and car insurance papers.:p

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Health departments don't maintain immunization records unless they administered your vaccines.

Health departments may have low or no cost vaccines. My sister (not nursing but healthcare working in pediatrics) was able to get all her needed boosters & tests (TDaP booster, MMR booster, TB skin test, HepB, etc) for next to nothing as there was an outbreak of multiple what used to be childhood illnesses in her area. My health dept offers TB skin tests for $5 and low cost Hep B. They offered low cost influenza & TDaP last year due to an increase in pertussis in the general area.

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If you can pay for the lab draws/titers I would just go that way. Nursing School wants your vaccine record but both my first employer and my new employer (we moved across multiple states) would not go off of just me saying I had chicken pox in 1992. It'll save you from getting poked down the road. Once you get your titers keep the records in a safe spot.

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Specializes in ICU.

I just had my titers drawn. I had a couple of my immunization records but nothing after 1977. My school didn't keep mine but some do. Yeah, they wouldn't take my word that I had chicken pox in 1984 either. Lol. But I thought it was strange that my doc treated me for shingles in 2007 and he still drew the varicella titer. Oh well. Just waiting on Hep B to come in. It is my understanding if you have had a child your OB should have either drawn the titer or vaccinated you against it.

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Specializes in LTC.

Thank you all for the great info. :) I contacted my health department in the city I'm living in now, and they will draw titers for MMR and Varicella for $53.00(both)! I'm so relieved. I could get the boosters for both for $117.00. Are the titers pretty much 100% accurate? If there is a chance that they aren't, I'll just get the boosters to be safe. I have heard of cases where people were vaccinated against MMR years ago, and the titers show that they never were or that they needed a booster. I'd hate to have to pay for both.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Titers are accurate at the time they are drawn. I had reduced immunity to HepB 15 years after vaccination. I required a single booster.

The only time my MMR & varicella titers dropped it turned out to be a lab error.

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Specializes in LTC.

Thank you for the response. :)

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