Finding Your Vaccination Records in the United States: Providers, State Registries and Next Steps

Where to look for missing vaccination records, why CDC cannot send your record, and what to discuss with your health care provider.

There is no single national vaccination-record office

CDC says a vaccination record documents vaccines received in childhood and adulthood and may be needed for some jobs, travel or school registration. CDC does not hold your personal vaccination history. Start with records held by you or your family and the doctors or clinics that gave the vaccines, rather than sending a personal-record request to CDC.

Official sources: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html

Ask previous providers, schools and employers

CDC suggests checking childhood documents, school or college health services, previous employers that required immunizations, and doctors or public health clinics. Records are not always retained indefinitely. If you have records from before moving to the United States, bring them to your health care provider when discussing your vaccination history. The provider can review what information is available; this guide does not determine whether a particular document satisfies a school, employer or immigration requirement.

Official sources: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html

Check the state where the vaccines were given

CDC's Immunization Information Systems (IIS) directory lists state and local contacts for requesting records. Try the registry in the state where you or your child last received shots, or contact the provider or local immunization program. Some states include adult vaccinations in their registries. A registry may not contain every vaccine you received, so an empty result is not proof that you were never vaccinated.

Official sources: https://cdc.gov/iis/contacts-locate-records/ · https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html

If records remain missing, discuss the next step

CDC advises speaking with your doctor about staying up to date. When records cannot be found, some vaccines may need to be repeated; a clinician can sometimes use blood tests to check immunity to certain diseases. Do not choose repeat doses or tests from this guide. Ask your provider for an updated record, keep it with your important documents, and bring it to future visits. If the provider participates in a registry, ask for the vaccination to be recorded there too.

Official sources: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html

Published on Mahjar Post on October 31, 2026. Sources: official pages linked after each section.