Notes from the register
How to find your vaccination records in the US: a 2026 guide
Where US vaccination records are kept, how to request them from your state registry or doctor, which states offer apps, and what to do if records cannot be found.
There is no national vaccination database
The CDC is direct about this: it does not hold vaccination records for individuals. Your records are kept by whoever gave the vaccine and, in most cases, by your state’s immunization information system, often called an IIS or immunization registry.
The CDC describes these systems as confidential, population-based databases that record doses given by participating providers in a given area. Coverage varies: adult vaccines, doses given in another state or doses from many years ago may be missing.
Sources: CDC: Contacts to locate immunization records · CDC: About immunization information systems
Where to look, in order
Start with the sources most likely to hold a complete history, then fill gaps.
| Source | What it usually has | How to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Your state immunization registry | Doses reported by participating providers in that state | Use the state contact or public portal listed by the CDC |
| Your doctor or clinic | Vaccines they gave, and sometimes a consolidated history | Patient portal or records request |
| Pharmacies | Vaccines given at that pharmacy | Pharmacy app or pharmacist |
| Schools, colleges, the military and employers | Copies submitted for requirements | The relevant records office |
| Parents or caregivers | Childhood records and baby books | Ask family members |
Sources: CDC: Finding and keeping adult vaccine records · CDC: Children’s vaccination records
Using your state registry
The CDC keeps a list of immunization program contacts and public-access portals for every state and territory. Some states let you download a record online after verifying your identity; others ask you to submit a form or call. If you have lived in more than one state, request records from each.
State apps: MyIR Mobile and Docket
Two apps connect directly to some state registries. MyIR Mobile is free and lists Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia, with SMART Health Cards in select states. Docket lists access in Alaska, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, and supports family records and SMART Health Cards and Links. Check each app’s current state list before relying on it.
Sources: MyIR Mobile · Docket
COVID-19 vaccine records
Most COVID-19 vaccinations were reported to state registries, so request them the same way. The CDC’s Vaccine Administration Management System can only provide certificates for doses scheduled and given through that system; for anything else, the CDC directs people to their state or local health department.
Sources: CDC: About VAMS
If your records cannot be found
Records are sometimes lost for good, particularly for adults. The CDC says it is safe to repeat vaccines if records cannot be found, and that blood tests can check immunity to some diseases. Talk to your clinician about which option makes sense for you.
Keep a copy that travels with you
Once you have gathered your history, keep a personal copy and update it after each vaccine.
- Download or photograph each official record you receive.
- Ask for a SMART Health Card where your state or pharmacy offers one; it can be verified digitally.
- Note the date, vaccine name and where you received it for any dose that is missing from the registry, and ask your provider to report it.
- Keep children’s records together with school and camp forms.
Questions about this guide
Does the CDC have my vaccination records?
No. The CDC says it does not hold individual vaccination records. Contact your state immunization registry, your healthcare provider or your state or local health department.
What if I got vaccines in several states?
Request records from each state’s registry and from the providers involved, then combine them in one personal copy.