Retrieve the Right New York Vaccine Record Without Using the Wrong Registry
New York uses two major immunization registries. Vaccinations administered in New York City are reported through the Citywide Immunization Registry, called CIR, while vaccinations administered elsewhere in New York State are generally reported to the New York State Immunization Information System, called NYSIIS.
This guide shows the resident-facing route for each system, how NYC My Vaccine Record works, how parents recover children’s records, what adults should do when histories are incomplete, which phone and email options fit each problem, and how to recover missing, old, pharmacy, school, out-of-state and foreign records.
CIR — Citywide Immunization Registry.
NYSIIS — New York State Immunization Information System.
My Vaccine Record.
518-473-4437 · immunize@health.ny.gov.
311 · 212-639-9675.
NYC CIR or NYSIIS? Choose before searching
Start with the Citywide Immunization Registry and My Vaccine Record when the vaccine was administered in:
- Manhattan.
- Brooklyn.
- Queens.
- The Bronx.
- Staten Island.
Start with NYSIIS-related sources when the vaccine was administered in places such as:
- Long Island.
- Westchester.
- Hudson Valley.
- Albany / Capital Region.
- Buffalo / Western NY.
- Rochester.
- Syracuse / Central NY.
- Other NY counties outside NYC.
Where the shot was given matters more than your current address
| Situation | First registry route | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Lives in NYC, vaccinated in NYC | CIR | Try My Vaccine Record. |
| Lives outside NYC, vaccinated outside NYC | NYSIIS | Ask provider, local health department or another authorized source. |
| Lives in NYC, vaccinated in Westchester | NYSIIS | Start with the Westchester/provider/NYSIIS-related route. |
| Lives in Nassau County, vaccinated in Manhattan | CIR | Check the NYC provider and My Vaccine Record. |
| Vaccinated in both systems | Both | Search both routes and compare the histories. |
| Vaccinated in another state | That state’s IIS | Retrieve the outside record separately. |
How to retrieve NYSIIS immunization records as a resident
NYSIIS is a secure registry used outside New York City. It is not a universal consumer portal where every New York resident creates an account and downloads a lifetime record.
NYSIIS login is not the normal resident record-download route
- Ask your provider.
- Ask the local health department.
- Check school/college files.
- Check pharmacy records.
- Contact NYSDOH for routing help.
- Uses Health Commerce System access.
- Has an individual NYSIIS account.
- Uses system access for approved professional functions.
- Technical Help Desk support is for authorized system access.
How parents can obtain a child’s NYSIIS record
New York’s NYSIIS guidance says parents and guardians can obtain a child’s record through the child’s healthcare provider, local public-health department, or NYSDOH record route.
How to retrieve NYC immunization records with My Vaccine Record
My Vaccine Record currently supports four lookup routes
Use the IDNYC number when that is your preferred supported identity route.
The portal supports a New York State driver or non-driver license number.
Try the primary mobile number connected to the CIR record.
Use the email address most likely reported by the healthcare provider.
How to get a child’s CIR immunization record
My Vaccine Record can provide a child’s record when the requester is properly connected to the child’s CIR information.
Why adult NY immunization records are often less complete
Immunizations received before age 19 remain in NYSIIS. Vaccinations administered at age 19 or older may be added with the adult’s consent.
NYC providers must report child immunizations. Adult vaccinations may be reported with consent, so some adult histories can be incomplete.
Adult backup sources
Why a New York vaccine record may be missing
Use this recovery order
My Vaccine Record failed? Use Record Assistance
What the NYC Immunization Record Request Application asks for
The current one-page CIR application collects detailed matching information for the person whose record is being requested.
Applicant information
Additional matching information
Photo identification
The form instructs mail requesters to attach a copy of valid photo identification such as an IDNYC card, driver’s license or passport.
Citywide Immunization Registry
42-09 28th St.
Fifth Floor, CN-21
Long Island City, NY 11101-4132
Who should fix a wrong or incomplete NY immunization record?
| Problem | Best first route | What to request |
|---|---|---|
| Missing vaccination | Administering provider/pharmacy | Verify the original administration record and registry submission. |
| Wrong vaccination date | Administering provider | Compare registry entry with the source clinical record. |
| Wrong name or DOB | Provider plus applicable registry help | Correct demographic information at the source. |
| Child not accessible in My Vaccine Record | Child’s provider | Confirm parent/guardian/primary-contact data in CIR. |
| NYC no-match despite correct details | Record Assistance | Official identity and record review. |
| Adult dose missing outside NYC | Provider/pharmacy | Verify whether adult consent/reporting was documented. |
Recover a missing vaccine from the pharmacy that administered it
Bring previous-state or foreign records into your New York healthcare history
Give your NYC healthcare provider a copy of previous immunization history and ask the provider to add appropriate historical information to CIR.
Give your New York State provider the old record and ask whether the documented history is represented appropriately in NYSIIS.
Preserve the original vaccine names, dates, stamps and signatures. Ask the provider or receiving school how the documentation should be reviewed.
New York may not contain vaccines given in another state
Retrieve records from every state where vaccinations were administered rather than assuming NYSIIS or CIR contains an interstate lifetime history.
Cross-Hudson and border-area records are common. Check the New Jersey registry/provider route separately.
If a vaccination was administered in Connecticut, retrieve the Connecticut record separately.
Military, VA and other federal vaccine histories
Use the applicable military health-record or records-request system for vaccinations administered through military care.
Check the VA health-record route for vaccinations administered through VA care.
Contact the agency or facility that administered the vaccination when the dose cannot be found in New York’s registry.
What New York schools can use as immunization proof
Current NYSED guidance recognizes several forms of acceptable immunization documentation.
| Documentation | Recognized route | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Provider-signed certificate | Yes | Should identify administered vaccine products and dates. |
| NYSIIS record | Yes | Official New York State registry documentation. |
| NYC CIR record | Yes | Official NYC registry documentation. |
| Certain qualifying laboratory/serologic proof | In specified situations | School and healthcare staff should apply current NY rules. |
| Another state’s official IIS | Yes | Useful for students who moved into New York. |
| Electronic health record | Yes | Must contain the needed immunization information. |
| Official foreign record | Yes | The school may review it under current state documentation rules. |
| Previous-school record | Can be accepted | Must contain the information required for an immunization certificate. |
Your previous New York school may still have the record
Current NYSED recordkeeping guidance says a student’s individual immunization record must be retained for at least:
This is one minimum retention measure used for student immunization records.
Use whichever period is longer.
Do not assume every school record problem follows the standard enrollment route
Current NYSED school guidance contains separate procedures for situations including students experiencing homelessness, students in foster care and refugee students.
A medical exemption is a separate official process. A missing vaccine record does not itself create or prove a medical exemption.
Ask what proof is accepted before ordering anything medical
Follow the student-health portal and identify the exact vaccines/forms required.
Ask the clinical coordinator which vaccine dates, provider records or qualifying laboratory evidence it accepts.
Ask occupational health whether it accepts NYSIIS/CIR, provider or pharmacy documentation.
My Vaccine Record PDF and SMART Health Card options
NYC My Vaccine Record can provide both a downloadable PDF immunization report and supported SMART Health Card QR codes.
Supported vaccination QR records can be added through Apple Health; COVID-19 QR information can also be added to Apple Wallet when supported.
NYC provides CommonHealth instructions for saving supported SMART Health Card information.
For a focused COVID-record workflow, see the COVID-19 vaccine record guide.
Recover immunization records when the original doctor closed
New York immunization-record contact decision table
| Need | Current contact | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| General NYS immunization help outside NYC |
518-473-4437 immunize@health.ny.gov |
Division of Vaccine Excellence questions and public routing. |
| NYSIIS program/policy question |
518-473-2839 nysiis@health.ny.gov |
NYSIIS program/policy questions. |
| NYSIIS technical user problem |
866-389-0371 nysiishelpdesk@gainwelltechnologies.com |
Authorized-user NYSIIS account/system support, not routine patient record retrieval. |
| Family/child resource routing | 800-522-5006 | Growing Up Healthy information/referral, including immunization resources. |
| NYC public vaccine-record help |
311 212-639-9675 |
Public record questions, mailed-form help and NYC routing. |
| NYC immunization/CIR general help | 347-396-2400 | NYC immunization/CIR questions and routing. |
| My Vaccine Record questions | cir-records@health.nyc.gov | Questions about My Vaccine Record access. |
| Urgent NYC record need after normal route fails | NYCvaxrecord@health.nyc.gov | Explain why the request is urgent; do not include personal identifying information in ordinary email. |
| NYC provider reporting help | 866-692-3641 | Provider Access Line when a healthcare professional needs reporting help. |
What to say when calling about a New York vaccine record
Prepare this record-recovery worksheet
Use another guide only when your history actually crosses jurisdictions
Use the focused CIR guide when all relevant vaccines were administered in the five boroughs.
Use the New Jersey guide when part of the history was administered across the Hudson or elsewhere in NJ.
Use the Connecticut guide for records administered in Connecticut before moving to New York.
New York immunization-record links worth saving
Official New York State immunization-registry information outside NYC.
Open NYSIIS informationCurrent statewide Division of Vaccine Excellence information and public contact route.
Open NYSDOH immunizationPublic NYC CIR lookup for eligible adults, parents and guardians.
Open My Vaccine RecordCIR record access, no-record guidance, mail request and contact routes.
Open NYC guidanceRecord Assistance, mail/fax timing, corrections and emergency route.
Open NYC311Current Immunization Record Request Application.
Open applicationCurrent NYSDOH school and daycare requirement materials.
Open school requirementsUse when vaccinations were administered in another state.
Find another registryNY immunization record glossary
- NYSIIS
- New York State Immunization Information System, the registry used for immunizations administered in New York State outside New York City.
- CIR
- Citywide Immunization Registry, the immunization registry used for New York City.
- My Vaccine Record
- NYC Health’s public portal for retrieving eligible CIR records.
- HCS
- Health Commerce System, the professional New York State system used by authorized organizations for services including NYSIIS access.
- IDNYC
- A New York City identification card whose number can be used as a My Vaccine Record lookup method.
- Record Assistance
- NYC’s official escalation route when My Vaccine Record does not return the expected record or information requires review.
- SMART Health Card
- A verifiable digital health-record format using QR codes; My Vaccine Record can provide supported vaccine records in this format.
- Historical dose
- A vaccination administered previously and documented from an earlier provider, registry or official record.
Final record-quality and privacy checklist
NY immunization records FAQs
How do I get my NY immunization records?
First determine where the vaccinations were administered. For vaccines administered outside New York City, start with the provider, local health department, school, pharmacy or NYSDOH/NYSIIS-related route. For vaccinations administered in the five boroughs, start with NYC My Vaccine Record and CIR.
Does where I live determine whether my record is in NYSIIS or CIR?
Not by itself. New York’s registry reporting is based primarily on where the vaccination was administered. A vaccination administered in NYC is reported to CIR; one administered elsewhere in New York State is reported to NYSIIS even if the patient’s home address is in the other jurisdiction.
Can I create a NYSIIS account and download my personal record?
NYSIIS direct system access is for authorized users through New York’s Health Commerce System. Patients and parents normally retrieve records through healthcare providers, local health departments, schools, pharmacies and NYSDOH record-support routes.
How do I get NYC immunization records online?
Use My Vaccine Record. The current portal supports eligible searches using an IDNYC number, NYS DMV driver or non-driver ID number, mobile phone or email address.
Why can’t My Vaccine Record find my record?
Common causes include an old phone number or email, former surname, incorrect demographic information, parent/guardian information not linked correctly, an adult vaccine that was not reported, a vaccination administered outside NYC or a provider reporting gap. Use Record Assistance when normal matching fails.
Can parents get a child’s New York immunization record?
Yes. Outside NYC, parents can obtain a child’s NYSIIS record through the provider, local health department or appropriate NYSDOH route. In NYC, My Vaccine Record can provide a child’s CIR record when the requester is properly linked as the parent, guardian, next of kin or primary contact.
What phone numbers and emails should I use for NY immunization-record help?
Outside NYC, general NYSDOH immunization help is available at 518-473-4437 and immunize@health.ny.gov; NYSIIS program questions use 518-473-2839 and nysiis@health.ny.gov. In NYC, public record help is available through 311 or 212-639-9675, and the NYC immunization/CIR line is 347-396-2400. Do not send sensitive identifying information through ordinary email.
Can NYSIIS or CIR records be used for school?
Yes. Current NYSED guidance recognizes NYSIIS and CIR records as acceptable immunization proof, along with other qualifying provider certificates, electronic health records, another state’s registry records, official foreign records and certain previous-school documentation.
How long do New York schools keep immunization records?
Current NYSED guidance states that individual student immunization records must be retained for at least six years or three years after the student reaches age 18, whichever period is longer.
What should I do if my old doctor closed or vaccines were given in another state?
Check the successor medical practice, affiliated health system, former schools, colleges, pharmacies, employer or military records and every state immunization registry where vaccinations were administered. Do not guess missing vaccination dates.