How do I get my kids' shot records if I've lost them and their former doctor doesn't have any old records?

Question

My kids are three and five, and I'm fairly sure one of them is behind on his vaccinations. We moved from Tennessee in March of 2006, and when I tried to get their medical records, along with the shot records, sent to me or their daycare, they never got sent.

I dropped the ball and feel horrible about it and am trying to get everything in order now. I went to their daycare when I couldn't find the shot records for my five-year-old so I could enroll him in kindergarten, and when they looked, they didn't have them either.

I called their former pediatrician, to try to get all their records sent to me, and they just told me they don't have ANY of the records for either of my kids.

Any suggestions? Would some agency like the health department or anything have the shot records?

I can't be the first parent to have lost the records, so it seems like there would be SOMETHING I should do to get my son enrolled in kindergarten.

Okay, I called the former pediatrician back, and the woman I spoke to earlier is new and didn't look right. They have the records.

New problem: they won't send them to me. They won't send them to the daycare (something that would have been nice to know back in July when I first tried to get them faxed.) They won't send them to the walk-in clinic I've taken my son to when he's been sick, but he hasn't had an official well child visit in the last year (I know, I'm a bad mother, please don't antagonize me, I'm already stressed).

They will ONLY send it to the new pediatrician, which is a problem since there isn't really a new pediatrician. We're currently between insurances right now, and I don't know who their new pediatrician will be, starting next month (after the date I need to go ahead and register him by) when the insurance kicks in.

Hmmm, should have picked a best answer while I only had nice, supportive, helpful answers........

Thanks for the attitude, sassy.

Answer 1

The most important thing, and first on your list, should be to get some sort of shot clearance. Simply go to your new pediatrician, explain to the doctor (not a nurse), what has happened, and that you think one or both of your children may be behind. The doctor will know exactly what to do, then ask at the front desk for an immunization certificate, you may have to pick it up the next day. That is what the school needs anyway.

Second on your list of things to do, is get back at that doctor in TN. Vaccination records are not records that a doctor's office can dispose of, they HAVE to keep them, by law. So report that doctor's office to the TN attorney general's office. They may also want you to file complaints with other agencies, if they do, they'll tell you how to contact them.

Good Luck, and just know that you aren't the first, and won't be the last.

Answer 2

Shot Records For Kids

Answer 3

I have lost my kids shot records every years since they have been born, I don't even keep them now. Your Dr. should have the shot records they are not supose to throw that stuff away until the child is over 18. You can call the health department and they can get your child up to date as far as the records go.

Now, if you have insurance, the insurance would have records of all the bills they received from the dr. including the medical codes for billing, then you could bring that to the new dr, or the health department and have them decode it to see what shots your children did or didn't have.

Answer 4

You should report your former pediatrician to the AMA/Medical Licensing Board. Doctors are required to keep all records for I believe it is 7 years.

As for your more immediate problem ALL states offer an exemption from vaccination, at least a medical one and most offer religious and/or philosophical exemptions as well. Even if your state only offers medical exemptions your current doctor should be willing to sign off on medical exemption because vaccinating with no records is not necessarily safe. So that way you can get your son in kindergarten (public only, private schools can have any restrictions they wish).

That way you will have time to sort things out, getting vaccinations late is safer than too close together.

Answer 5

Talk to the health department. In my city, you can take your kids to the health department to get vaccinations. They usually have an immunization clinic two or three times a year. Ask them about it, the old doctor's office should be able to fax it to them. And don't worry, you aren't the first mom to lose the shot records and that doesn't make you a bad mother. At the very least the health department should be able to tell you who to talk to to get this all straightened out.

Answer 6

Tennessee Immunization Records

Answer 7

They probably will send them, but they want you to pay for them. It's probably going to be a $25 dollar fee associated with any childs chart that needs to be sent out. Make sure you call and ask to speak with an office manager. Let he/she know that you have moved and are no longer in the area. Also let the office manager know that these records are critical and by law they are yours to have, after associated fees.
If they have lost your records tell them that they need to find them. If all doesn't go well, and no records are found. It's ok to get any shots regiven. Just make sure your contact a new pediatrician to verify this. It should be ok to get double when no proof can be supplied!!

Answer 8

yes contact the health dept. of the town you lived in. why does the dr not have their records if they are 5 and 3 dr's are supposed to keep files for 5 years. the 5 yr old should have had shots at 4 and the 3 year old should have had shots at 2, and will not need anymore until 4, good luck

Answer 9

Ask the doctor's office if they are required to give the records to any other agency. I find it very odd that they wouldn't keep the records when your children are so young. Did you have health insurance that paid for the shots? Maybe the insurance company would have some record.

Answer 10

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All I had to do for my son for his daycare is call his doctor. They faxed me a copy right away. There was not a fee, but there may be one if you need a hard copy sent to you, especially in another state.