Immunization Requirements - Help!

U.S.A. Colorado

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Does anyone have any ideas on how one could get ahold of their immunization records? I am 31. I attended public school here in Colorado (Kindergarten on up). Obviously, you can't attend public schools without having all of your shots! My pediatrician is dead. His office has long been closed. I have no idea on how to obtain "proof" of my immunizations. I have called Tri-County Health Dept. and they do not have such records. I am hoping when the schools open next week that maybe I can track down my records (although I haven't attended school in over 15 years!!

I really do not want to have to re-do all of these freakin' immunizations (especially with the co-pays I have to pay with my health insurance - not to mention the time off of work, the possible side effects of the shots, etc., etc.)

I highly doubt the public schools keep such records. The only shots I have on file with Kaiser are flu shots. This really sucks.

Anybody have any ideas? I hear it's very, very common for most older students (such as myself) to have to re-immunize because we cannot prove our shot record. Maybe I'm just being a baby and whining for no good reason, but I just find this a real bummer. If there is anyway to obtain old shot records, I would love to know about it!

Thanks!

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Does your mother have any of your old records?

If not, you are going to need titers to prove immunity. No way around that. Unless you have had proof that you have had two MMR shots, you will definitely need to get a titer drawn.

If you had chicken pox and know when, that may suffice, it will depend on your school.

For work, you are going to need the records, and they are usually more particular as to what they will accept.

Try calling your county health dept, you may be able to get the titers done there for a cheaper price than your co-pay. It is worth investigating. You should also be able to get a TB skin test there for free as well.

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I received my immunizations records from the high school that I attended. I was 40 at the time. I just called and they made me a copy that day.

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Specializes in LTAC, Telemetry, Thoracic Surgery, ED.

My program REQUIRES titers w/attached lab sheet and not a history

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My highschool had my records...just took a while to get them. Good luck!

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Specializes in School Nursing and Dialysis.

Health records are kept as a part of the permanent school file for many years (I think maybe 60 years), so your high school should have your records. If you have a large school district, the central administration office probably has the file.

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You are still going to need current titers...............that is the only way to prove that your immunizations worked.

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Specializes in NICU.

Definitely check with your school - there is a good chance they will have copies. Other than that, I don't have any ideas. I did find out, however, that a school cannot force you to have immunizations in order to attend - found this out through work as we have a lady who applied for TANF (used to be welfare) which requires immunizations who said she refused to immunize her children. I asked her how she expects them to attend school and she said the school makes her sign a waiver because they cannot legally force her to immunize her children - her children do attend. I couldn't put her on TANF and it really infuriates me that people do this to their kids - but apparently she has had to have lawyers call the school on this and they had to allow the kids with the signed waiver. Interesting. I had always thought you had to be immunized before they would allow you to attend as well. Anyway, just FYI as to why regular school attendance doesn't necessarily mean you have been immunized in case anybody out there was wondering. ;) Good luck - I hope you find your records - I was lucky and my Mom had my immunization card.

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Anyway, just FYI as to why regular school attendance doesn't necessarily mean you have been immunized in case anybody out there was wondering. ;) Good luck - I hope you find your records - I was lucky and my Mom had my immunization card.

Yep, I've heard the waiver process is so easy in Colorado...and that probably contributes to our terrible immunization rates. A bit off topic, but there you go :)

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Specializes in NICU.
Yep, I've heard the waiver process is so easy in Colorado...and that probably contributes to our terrible immunization rates. A bit off topic, but there you go :)

Yes, sorry about getting side-tracked there, but this is interesting and a little scary to me. I agree with you - it's no wonder we have horrible immunization rates when all a mom has to do is sign a waiver to get her kids into school. Not fair to the kiddos in my opinion. :sniff:

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You don't have to have shots to go to school or even leave the country. It was not even an issue for me when I went to nursing school. I wrote a short letter and that was it. I do not believe in vaccinations for myself or my children, and to people who argue that my nonvaccinated child is a danger to their vaccinated one...if the vaccines are effective then they have nothing to worry about.

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You don't have to have shots to go to school or even leave the country. It was not even an issue for me when I went to nursing school. I wrote a short letter and that was it. I do not believe in vaccinations for myself or my children, and to people who argue that my nonvaccinated child is a danger to their vaccinated one...if the vaccines are effective then they have nothing to worry about.

you dont even want to get me started.....just keep it in Tennessee please.

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