Health Corner

Everyone is curious, everyone keeps asking. Do I have all of my vaccine doses? How do I find out?

The best piece of advice is to maintain all of your records as best you can. Keep all of those childhood immunization records, receipts, and folded up vaccines tracker cards so they can all be compiled into one comprehensive list. This makes it much easier to assess your vaccines for completeness.

Depending on where you are from geographically will also play a role in which vaccines you have received. Keep in mind that to enter Maryland schools, a child must meet specific minimal vaccine requirements, as well as anyone applying through immigration for various forms of citizenship. All of this information can be easily found on the internet. A list will follow this article.

There is an immunization information system, or IIS that Maryland providers use called Immunet. Beginning October 1, 2019, all providers giving vaccines in Maryland were mandated to report those vaccines to Immunet. Therefore, providing a comprehensive vaccine record with any vaccine you receive from any provider or vaccine clinic in Maryland. This IIS also helps by including reminders for which vaccines may be behind or recommended based on the individual’s age and previous doses of vaccines.

As a consumer, you have access to myIRmobile. Which usually provides the same list of vaccines that Immunet has. You need to create an account to gain access to this resource. Since Immunet is a fairly new system, it likely does not contain the childhood immunization records of adults, unless they have been entered manually by a provider from your paper records.

Can’t find any records but need proof of vaccination for employment or education? The best option here is to have titers checked for the vaccines required. Titers are blood work that will show if you have antibodies to a disease through vaccination or from previous exposure. This can be done through your doctor or a lab. If these are positive, check to make sure your institution accepts them. If they are negative, you will need a vaccine booster through your doctor or pharmacy to prove your immunity.

Children that qualify for VFC, can have their vaccine record reviewed and receive needed vaccines at their local participating health department or provider’s office. To qualify for VFC a child must be under 18, be eligible for Medicaid, or have no insurance, or be under insured, or Alaskan or Indian Native.