Use this guide to understand how South Carolina residents, parents, and legal guardians can look up vaccine records through SIMON, download a personal immunization record, and avoid common errors when a record does not appear.
Quick answer
South Carolina immunization records are accessed through the Statewide Immunization Online Network, known as SIMON. You can request a vaccination record for yourself or a legal dependent, verify identity with the contact details already connected to the record, and download the available record from the portal.
For school use, pay close attention to the difference between the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, DPH Form 4024, and the personal immunization record, DPH Form 4025. The school certificate has stricter rules, while the personal record is mainly for viewing, saving, sharing with a provider, or checking vaccine history.
Table of contents
South Carolina immunization records quick facts
| Topic | What it means | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Main online system | South Carolina uses SIMON, the Statewide Immunization Online Network, for online immunization record access. | Start with the official SIMON public portal. |
| Who can request | You can request a record for yourself or for your legal dependent. | Choose “Me” or “Dependent” in the portal and enter the correct information. |
| Personal record | The personal immunization record is DPH Form 4025 and shows vaccine history available in SIMON. | Use “Download Full Record” when you need a saved copy for personal use or provider review. |
| School certificate | The South Carolina Certificate of Immunization is DPH Form 4024. | Use “Download School Certificate” only when the portal makes that certificate available for the child. |
| Recent vaccines | Records may not appear immediately after vaccination. | Allow up to 10 business days, then contact the provider if the dose is still missing. |
| Older or outside records | Vaccines before 2017, from another state, or from some military facilities may not show in SIMON. | Check with the provider, previous state registry, military clinic, school, or old medical office. |
How to get South Carolina immunization records online in 2026
The safest route is to use the official South Carolina SIMON portal, not a random third-party website. Your name, date of birth, relationship, and contact details must match what is already connected to the immunization record. Small mistakes can stop the search from working.
Go to the South Carolina SIMON public portal and select whether the request is for you or for a dependent. Use the official DPH-linked portal only.
Use the same legal first name, last name, date of birth, and other requested information that the vaccine provider likely used when reporting the vaccine.
Select whether you are the patient, parent, guardian, or another allowed relationship shown in the portal. Do not guess a relationship just to pass the screen.
The verification code normally depends on the phone number or email already listed in the SIMON record. If the contact detail does not match, the portal may show an error.
If the record is found, enter the verification code sent by the system. This step protects private immunization information from being opened by the wrong person.
Use “Download Full Record” for the personal immunization record. Use “Download School Certificate” when you need the official school certificate and the portal makes that option available.
Save the file to your device and print it if needed. Do not handwrite changes or digitally edit an official certificate because schools and agencies may reject altered documents.
If the portal does not find your record, do not keep retrying with random spellings. First compare legal name, date of birth, email, phone number, and the provider that gave the vaccine. Wrong matching data is a common reason for failed access.
DPH Form 4024 vs DPH Form 4025
A common mistake is assuming every downloaded vaccine record is automatically valid for school. South Carolina separates the official school certificate from the personal immunization record. Treat these as different documents.
This is the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization. It is the key document for school attendance when a certificate is required. For 5K through 12th grade, parents and legal guardians may be able to print it from SIMON if the child meets the portal requirements.
This is the South Carolina Personal Immunization Record. It can help you review vaccine history, share information with a provider, or keep a personal copy, but it is not the same thing as the school certificate.
For school or childcare, ask the school, childcare office, or health care provider exactly which South Carolina immunization form they require. For personal proof or health history, the full record may be enough, but official enrollment rules can be stricter.
What to do if your South Carolina immunization record is missing
A missing SIMON record does not always mean the vaccine was never given. It may mean the provider used a different name, the contact detail is outdated, the vaccination was recent, or the vaccine was given before the reporting period most likely to appear online.
Check these details first
- Use the patient’s full legal name, not a nickname or shortened name.
- Try the email address or phone number that the vaccine provider had on file.
- Check whether the vaccine was given outside South Carolina.
- Check whether the vaccine was given at a military facility.
- Allow time for a recent vaccine to appear after the provider submits it.
- Contact the provider that gave the vaccine and ask whether the SIMON record needs to be updated.
When to use the SIMON Vaccination Record Request
If the portal shows an error or says required information is missing, use the official SIMON Vaccination Record Request route linked by South Carolina DPH. That request is meant to help when the record cannot be accessed through the normal portal search.
If a school, college, employer, clinic, or travel office asks for proof, use official records or provider documentation. Do not create your own vaccine list from memory unless the receiving office specifically allows a self-reported history.
School, childcare, and parent notes for 2026
For South Carolina school use, the important document is the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, DPH Form 4024. Parents and legal guardians of eligible 5K through 12th grade students may be able to access and print the official certificate through SIMON.
Daycare rules can be different. South Carolina DPH notes that parents and guardians may still need to obtain DPH Form 4024 from a health care provider for children entering daycare because daycare requirements are not always handled the same way through the portal.
| Situation | Likely document needed | Smart next step |
|---|---|---|
| 5K–12 school enrollment | South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, DPH Form 4024 | Try the SIMON portal and confirm the school accepts the printed certificate. |
| Daycare entry | DPH Form 4024 may be needed from a provider | Contact the child’s provider or local health department before relying only on the portal. |
| Personal vaccine history | Personal Immunization Record, DPH Form 4025 | Download the full record and keep a PDF copy. |
| College or employer request | Depends on the institution | Ask the institution whether it accepts SIMON records, provider records, or a specific form. |
| Vaccine given outside South Carolina | May need provider or previous state record | Contact the original provider or previous state immunization registry. |
Information you should keep ready before opening SIMON
Prepare the details before you start the portal search. This saves time and reduces the chance of a failed verification attempt.
- Patient’s full legal first and last name
- Date of birth
- Gender or other demographic detail requested by the portal
- Your relationship to the patient
- Phone number or email address that may already be in SIMON
- Name of the provider, clinic, pharmacy, school clinic, or health department that gave the vaccine
- Approximate vaccine date if you are trying to track a missing dose
Common mistakes that delay South Carolina immunization record access
SIMON matching depends on official details. A nickname, middle name swap, hyphen issue, or misspelling can block a match.
The portal may need the email already connected to the immunization record. A new email may not verify correctly.
Recent vaccines may take time to appear after the provider reports them. Check again after the expected update window.
DPH Form 4024 and DPH Form 4025 are not interchangeable. Use the right document for the right purpose.
Official South Carolina immunization record links
Use these official and trusted resources for South Carolina immunization record access. Avoid unofficial websites that ask for unnecessary payment or collect sensitive health details without a clear government connection.
Related immunization record guides
These related resources can help users compare state record access, understand online portals, and prepare documents before requesting vaccine history.
Internal links should be updated if your final published URLs use a different slug structure.
FAQs about South Carolina immunization records
How do I get South Carolina immunization records online?
Use the official SIMON public portal. Choose whether the request is for you or a dependent, enter the requested details, verify identity, and download the available record.
What is SIMON in South Carolina?
SIMON means Statewide Immunization Online Network. It is South Carolina’s immunization information system used for vaccine record access and reporting.
Can I download my child’s school immunization certificate online?
For eligible 5K through 12th grade students, parents and legal guardians may be able to download the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, DPH Form 4024, through SIMON.
What is DPH Form 4024?
DPH Form 4024 is the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization. It is the important certificate used for school or childcare attendance when an immunization certificate is required.
What is DPH Form 4025?
DPH Form 4025 is the South Carolina Personal Immunization Record. It shows available vaccine history but is not the same as the official school certificate.
Why can’t I find my record in SIMON?
The record may have a different name, old contact details, missing email, recent vaccine delay, out-of-state vaccination, military vaccination, or provider reporting issue.
How long do vaccines take to show in South Carolina records?
Recent vaccines may take up to 10 business days to appear after vaccination. If a record is still missing, contact the provider that gave the vaccine.
Can military vaccine records appear in SIMON?
Some military facility records may not appear in SIMON. Military families should contact the clinic connected to the base or use the documentation accepted by the school or agency.
Can I edit the downloaded South Carolina school certificate?
No. Do not handwrite or digitally edit an official school certificate. Use the certificate as printed from the portal or request correction through the proper provider or DPH route.
Can I use a personal immunization record for school?
Do not assume the personal record is enough for school. Ask the school or childcare office whether they require the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, DPH Form 4024.
Final summary
For South Carolina immunization records in 2026, start with the official SIMON portal. Use the exact legal details that match the patient’s vaccine record, verify with the correct email or phone, and download the right document for your purpose.
Use DPH Form 4025 for a personal vaccine history copy and DPH Form 4024 when a school certificate is required. If the record is missing, check matching details first, then contact the vaccine provider or use the official SIMON record request option instead of guessing or using unofficial websites.
Source verification and editorial note
This guide was prepared using South Carolina Department of Public Health pages for SIMON, online access to immunization records, South Carolina vaccination records, SIMON FAQs, vaccine requirement resources, and the CDC IIS policy overview for South Carolina.
This article is for general information only. Immunization rules, portal features, school requirements, and certificate availability can change. Always confirm final requirements with South Carolina DPH, the SIMON portal, your health care provider, the school, childcare office, college, employer, or requesting agency.