Vaccination records available online

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WANE) - State and federal officials unveiled “MyVaxIndiana” Monday. It's an online tool from the Indiana State Department of Health that provides Hoosiers direct access to their immunization records.

“Our goal is to further improve immunization rates of Hoosiers by providing parents and patients ready on line access to their own vaccine records, 24 /7,” said State Health Commissioner Gregory Larkin, M.D.  “Having both the health care provider and the patient completely understand what vaccines have been given and what are further recommended will add to vaccine compliance. Additionally, once the provider gives the patient his/her individual Patient Identification Number (PIN), immunization records for school, travel or personal care are available on the patient’s on-line request.”

Hoosiers may access their immunization record on the secure website by entering their date of birth and a personal identification number, which must be requested from their healthcare provider or local health department in advance. Immunization history, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ACIP Immunization Schedule can then be viewed, with the option to download, print, or fax the record.

All MyVaxIndiana records appear as they are maintained in the Indiana Children and Hoosiers Immunization Registry Program (CHIRP). MyVaxIndiana complements CHIRP, which is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 4 million Hoosiers have “active” records in CHIRP, which is defined as having two or more vaccines entered.

MyVaxIndiana was created by the Indiana State Department of Health through a technology grant from the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) in response to the ONC Consumer Innovation challenge to provide consumer’s access to their health information.

“I applaud Indiana for being a leader and innovator in providing patients with access to their immunization history” said Judy Murphy, Deputy National Coordinator for Programs and Policy at the Office of the National Coordinator. “We are excited to have been able to help support this initiative. I would encourage every state to provide patients access to their immunization history.”

The goals of the new MyVaxIndiana tool are to improve state immunization rates, to empower Hoosiers to become a partner in managing their healthcare, and to reduce the burden of office visits.

Indiana has recently seen an increase in adolescent immunization rates due to increased immunization requirements, interagency partnerships and dedicated state funding over the past school year. According to the most recent CDC National Immunization Survey for Teens (NIS-Teen), teen immunization rates in Indiana have increased by 60 to 70 percent in some cases from 2009 to 2010.

However, outbreaks in the state such as the three outbreaks of measles which have occurred over the past two years emphasize the need for further improvement in immunization rates.