Medical history forms

When you or your child get vaccinated, it's important to keep track of the shots in a vaccination record, also called an immunization record.  

Monitoring immunization records

Where to look for immunization records and what to do with them

B-grade health facilities C public health nurses and other public health staff need to keep track of children's vaccination records in an electronic database. Your child's vaccination record may not be included in the Public Health registry if it was kept by a doctor's office, a pharmacy, or a First Nations community.

There are a number of places you can look for your child's immunization records if you do not have a copy on hand.

• Have you looked around the house for the immunization record of your child? Look through old photo albums or files. In B C The Child Health Passport has become the standard method for documenting vaccinations given to children.
• Inquire at the neighborhood health center. your kid has been immunized at school or the health center
• The best place to find out if your kid got vaccinated was at the pediatrician's office.
• If you are unsure whether or not your child has been vaccinated, you can ask your pharmacist.
• If you live in a First Nations community and you're wondering if your child was vaccinated, you can ask the community health nurse.
• Health Gateway is a central repository for medical records for British Columbians. Anyone over the age of 12 with a valid BC Services Card can use it.

In the absence of vaccination records (or other evidence of immunity), children are presumed to be unvaccinated and thus vulnerable to disease. In most cases, protecting these kids requires vaccinating (or revaccinating) them. Vaccine boosters can be given without worry. The availability and widespread use of blood tests to determine immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases is limited. What is best for your child can be discussed with his or her doctor.

Do you need access to the COVID-19 immunization database? You should visit the Health Hub. Keep a hard copy of your COVID-19 vaccination record in a secure location after receiving the vaccine. When you sign up for B C your COVID-19 vaccination history can be viewed in digital form via the Health Gateway.

The following are some potential resources for locating a copy of your immunization history:

• Look for your vaccination certificate at home. Have a look at old photo albums, scrapbooks, and other mementos from your youth.
• Ask your parents or other caretakers if they have a copy of your immunization records.
• It's a good idea to get in touch with both your current and previous primary care physicians. Remember that doctors' offices only keep immunization records for a certain amount of time.
• For more information, contact your county health department. If you received your vaccinations from your community health center or university,
• You can find out if you were vaccinated at your local pharmacy by asking the pharmacist there.
• If you were vaccinated in a First Nations community, you should contact your community health nurse.
• Health Gateway is a centralized portal where residents of British Columbia (BC) can access their complete medical history. Users must be at least 12 years old and have a BC Services Card to access it.

A person is not considered vaccinated and unprotected unless they have a vaccination record (or other evidence of immunity). Immunization (or revaccination, if necessary) is recommended for their safety. Vaccination boosters are safe to use. However, not all vaccine-preventable diseases have blood tests available for routine use, and those that do have limited utility. Get advice on what's best for you from your doctor.

Cards with Records

Download and print an immunization record card here if you or your child does not already have one.  

An immunization record app is available for free on mobile devices. If you're interested in finding out more about the app, head on over to CANImmunize.ca.