Need a California vaccine record for school, childcare, college, work, travel, immigration paperwork, healthcare employment, or your own family file? California’s main registry is CAIR, and the easiest public route for many residents is the CDPH Digital Vaccine Record portal. This guide explains how to request records, what to do when a vaccine is missing, how the California Blue Card works for school, and where seniors or parents can get help without guessing.
To get California immunization records, start with the official CDPH Digital Vaccine Record portal, your doctor, your pharmacy, or your local health department. The Digital Vaccine Record can show vaccine information reported to the California Immunization Registry, also called CAIR.
Official next step: CDPH Digital Vaccine Record portalIf your record is missing, it does not always mean you were never vaccinated. It may mean the provider did not report the dose yet, the record is under an old name or phone number, the vaccine was given in another state, or the dose is only visible in a pharmacy or provider portal.
💉 Immunization Record Tools
Free interactive tools to find, verify, and plan your vaccine records — all data verified May 2026
🏛️ Instant State IIS Record Finder
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🔎 Where Should I Look for My Records?
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🔬 Titer Test Need Calculator
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⚡ Emergency Record Guide — How Long Do You Have?
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What Are CAIR and the California Digital Vaccine Record?
CAIR means California Immunization Registry. It is California’s immunization information system where participating healthcare providers, clinics, pharmacies, and public health programs report vaccine doses. The California Digital Vaccine Record, often called DVR, is the public-facing way many residents can view, download, or print immunization information from CAIR.
Official CAIR page: California Immunization Registry — CDPHThe Digital Vaccine Record can include your name, date of birth, vaccination dates, vaccines received, and future vaccine recommendations when the information is available in CAIR. Some doses may not show if a provider has not reported them, if there is a reporting delay, or if your identity information does not match.
Official DVR information: CDPH CAIR records and DVR pageUse the Digital Vaccine Record portal first, then check your provider, pharmacy, or local health department if anything is missing.
Request a Digital Vaccine RecordParents can request a child’s digital vaccine record, but each child’s record may need a separate request.
Read DVR questionsCalifornia schools and childcare programs use vaccine documentation and the Blue Card / CDPH 286 record process.
Open Shots for SchoolHow To Get California Immunization Records Step by Step
Use this order. It starts with the official online route, then moves to the provider, pharmacy, county health department, and other state registries if the record is incomplete.
- Start with the CDPH Digital Vaccine Record portal. Enter the requested identity details and contact information. If a matching CAIR record is found, you can access a digital copy.
- Check the phone number or email used when you were vaccinated. Many record problems happen because the vaccine was recorded under an old cell phone, old email, maiden name, or a different spelling.
- Ask the doctor, clinic, hospital system, or pharmacy that gave the vaccine. They may be able to print your vaccine history or correct missing information.
- For school or childcare, ask what exact proof is needed. California schools may use the California School Immunization Record, commonly called the Blue Card or CDPH 286.
- Use local public health help if the record is missing. Your county health department can often guide you when a provider closed, a child needs school proof, or old records are hard to locate.
- Check another state if the shot was not given in California. CAIR may not show vaccines given in Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Texas, New York, another state, Puerto Rico, or another country.
- Save your record safely. Keep a PDF, a printed copy, and a backup screenshot of the QR code if one is provided. Do not post your QR code publicly.
California Digital Vaccine Record Online: How It Works
The California Digital Vaccine Record portal lets residents request a digital copy of vaccine records reported to CAIR. The record may include all vaccinations that were reported by healthcare providers and pharmacies to CAIR, not only COVID-19, when those doses are available and matched correctly.
Official portal: myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.govWhen you use the request form, enter your name, date of birth, and the phone number or email connected to the vaccine record. Parents and guardians with more than one child tied to one phone number or email may need to submit a separate DVR request for each child.
Official request form: Digital Vaccine Record Request Form| DVR detail | What it means | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Name and date of birth | The system needs a match in CAIR. | Try legal name, previous last name, or exact spelling used by the provider. |
| Phone or email | The record may be tied to contact information used at vaccination. | Try old phone numbers or emails if the first request fails. |
| QR code | Some records may include a SMART Health Card style QR code. | Save it privately; do not share it publicly online. |
| Missing dose | A provider may not have reported the dose yet or the dose may not match. | Ask the provider or pharmacy that gave the vaccine to verify the record. |
California School Immunization Record: Blue Card / CDPH 286
The California School Immunization Record is commonly called the Blue Card, CSIR, or CDPH 286. School and childcare staff use it to record a child’s required vaccine dose information and status based on the immunization record provided by the parent or guardian.
Official Blue Card tools: CDPH school implementation resourcesDo not confuse the Blue Card with your personal vaccine history. A parent may show an immunization record or Digital Vaccine Record as proof, but school or childcare staff may still need to complete or maintain the official school record process.
Official school page: California Shots for School| California document | Used for | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Vaccine Record | Official vaccine record access from CAIR when available. | Resident, parent, provider, pharmacy, CDPH/CAIR system. |
| CAIR record | Registry record of vaccines reported to California’s immunization system. | Providers, pharmacies, local health departments, CAIR. |
| Blue Card / CDPH 286 | California pre-kindergarten, school, and childcare immunization recordkeeping. | School or childcare staff based on proof provided by parent or guardian. |
| Provider printout | Adult work, school, travel, or personal proof. | Doctor, clinic, pharmacy, or hospital system. |
California School and Childcare Immunization Proof
California childcare and school offices may ask parents to show a child’s immunization record as proof. CDPH’s childcare guidance says parents must show the child’s immunization record, and parents can request a child’s digital vaccine record as proof when available.
Official childcare page: CDPH childcare immunizationsFor K-12 school entry, new enrollment, transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, seventh grade, childcare, preschool, or transfer situations, the school may look for dose dates and required vaccine status. Do not wait until the first day of school if your child’s record is incomplete.
School resource hub: CDPH Shots for School| School situation | Likely proof needed | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare or preschool | Child immunization record, DVR, or provider record. | Ask the provider, request DVR, and check with the childcare office. |
| Kindergarten or TK | Required dose dates and school immunization record. | Start with pediatrician or DVR before registration week. |
| Seventh grade | Updated immunization status for grade-level requirements. | Ask the school exactly what is missing before scheduling shots. |
| Moved from another state | Previous state record reviewed by school/provider. | Bring full vaccine history, then use CAIR/DVR when California doses exist. |
| Medical exemption question | Current California-specific medical exemption process. | Ask the school and CDPH school immunization resources directly. |
CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Kaiser, Sutter, UCLA Health and Pharmacy Vaccine Records
Many California adults received flu, COVID-19, RSV, shingles, pneumonia, Tdap, hepatitis, or travel vaccines at a pharmacy, health system, county clinic, or workplace clinic. Those vaccines may show in the Digital Vaccine Record if reported and matched, but your provider portal or pharmacy account may be faster.
Check the same system where the vaccine was given. Use the exact name, birth date, phone number, and email used at the appointment. If you changed phone numbers, used a work email, or made an appointment under a family member’s account, the record can be harder to find.
Old-record backup guide: Tips for locating old immunization recordsCheck your CVS or MinuteClinic account, then ask the pharmacy for a vaccine history if needed.
Use the Walgreens pharmacy account connected to the appointment, then call the store if the dose is missing.
Ask the Rite Aid pharmacy location where the vaccine was given for documentation.
Check Kaiser Permanente records or member portal for vaccines given inside Kaiser.
Check the health system portal or ask medical records for vaccine history.
Ask for vaccine names, exact dates, and signed documentation if needed for travel or work.
Why Your California Vaccine Record May Be Missing or Wrong
A missing Digital Vaccine Record does not automatically mean you were not vaccinated. It can happen when a provider has not reported the dose, the dose was given outside California, the contact information does not match, or the record was entered under a different name.
Record support: Digital Vaccine Record FAQ| Problem | What it means | What to try next |
|---|---|---|
| No match found | DVR could not match your name, date of birth, and contact details. | Try old phone, old email, maiden name, or spelling used at vaccination. |
| Missing dose | The dose may not have been reported or may be delayed. | Ask the provider or pharmacy that gave the vaccine to verify reporting. |
| Wrong name | Record may be under nickname, old name, hyphenated name, or data entry error. | Ask provider or CAIR Help Desk what correction route is available. |
| Out-of-state vaccine | The dose may be in another state’s registry. | Use CDC’s IIS contact directory for the state where you were vaccinated. |
| Old childhood record | Older paper records may never have been entered into CAIR. | Check school records, old pediatrician, county health department, and family files. |
| Military or VA vaccine | Federal or military vaccines may be stored in separate systems. | Check VA, TRICARE, military clinic, or service medical records. |
California Local Help: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Bay Area, Sacramento and Inland Empire
California is large, and residents often search locally because school offices, county clinics, and health systems can be different from one area to another. If the Digital Vaccine Record does not work, your local health department, provider, pharmacy, school, or county clinic can help you find the next step.
Statewide start: CDPH Shots for School| If you live near | Common search intent | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | LA immunization records, school shots, clinic vaccines. | Try DVR first, then provider/pharmacy, school, or county public health clinic. |
| San Diego County | San Diego vaccine records and CAIR2 help. | Use DVR, provider portal, and local public health record guidance. |
| Orange County | OC school vaccine proof and missing pharmacy records. | Ask the provider or pharmacy to verify reporting and bring proof to school. |
| Bay Area | San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara vaccine records. | Check health-system portals, DVR, pharmacy records, and county health help. |
| Sacramento | State record, school proof, provider printout. | Use DVR and ask the provider or school what proof format they accept. |
| Riverside / San Bernardino | Inland Empire immunization record help. | Try DVR, pharmacy records, provider records, and local health department support. |
California Immunization Record vs Full Medical Record
A California immunization record is not the same thing as a full medical record. A vaccine record usually lists vaccine names, dose dates, and sometimes provider or QR-code details. A full medical record can include doctor notes, diagnoses, medications, lab results, imaging, hospital visits, and treatment history.
For vaccine records, start with Digital Vaccine Record. For full medical records, contact the provider or hospital medical records department.| Need | Ask for | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| School vaccine proof | Immunization record, DVR, or school Blue Card process. | Parent record, provider, school office, CDPH school resources. |
| Adult vaccine history | Digital Vaccine Record or provider immunization history. | DVR portal, doctor, pharmacy, health-system portal. |
| Full hospital chart | Complete medical record or visit records. | Hospital medical records department. |
| Lab proof of immunity | Titer lab result. | Doctor, lab, employer instructions, or school instructions. |
Moved to California? How To Handle Out-of-State or Foreign Vaccine Records
If you moved to California from another state, your old vaccines may not automatically appear in CAIR. Bring the full immunization history to your California provider, school, college, employer, or local health department. The receiving office can tell you whether the old record is enough or whether you need a new form, updated dose, or additional review.
Find previous state records: CDC IIS contacts by stateIf you were vaccinated outside the United States, keep the original record and bring a translation if needed. A California school, provider, college health office, employer, or civil surgeon may need vaccine names, exact dates, dose spacing, and official documentation before accepting the record.
General vaccine guidance: CDC adult vaccinesTiter Tests When California Vaccine Records Are Lost
A titer is a blood test that can show immunity to some diseases. It may help when adult childhood records are lost, especially for healthcare jobs, nursing school, clinical programs, or college requirements. But the school, employer, college, or civil surgeon decides whether titers are accepted.
| Situation | Titers may help with | Ask first |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare job | MMR, varicella, hepatitis B. | Ask occupational health which lab result format they accept. |
| Nursing or medical school | MMR, varicella, hepatitis B. | Ask whether positive IgG titers replace vaccine dates. |
| Immigration exam | Civil surgeon-reviewed proof. | Ask the civil surgeon before paying for labs. |
| K-12 school or childcare | Limited situations only. | Ask the school and follow CDPH school immunization instructions. |
California SMART Health Card and QR Code Records
The California Digital Vaccine Record may provide a QR code for certain records. A QR code can be convenient when an employer, school, travel program, or event wants digital proof. However, not every vaccine record problem is solved by a QR code. Missing doses, wrong contact information, and out-of-state shots may still require provider or registry help.
General QR-code standard: SMART Health CardsOfficial California Immunization Record Links
Use official sources first. This page is an independent guide for California residents and is not CDPH, CAIR, a county health department, a school district, a pharmacy, or a healthcare provider.
Use this to request a California Digital Vaccine Record from CDPH.
Open DVR portalDirect form to request a secure link to your Digital Vaccine Record.
Open request formOfficial California Immunization Registry page from CDPH.
Open CAIR pageCDPH page explaining DVR, CAIR records, school/childcare/work use, and missing-dose notes.
Open CAIR records pageOfficial FAQ for record access, record issues, and DVR details.
Open DVR FAQCDPH school immunization requirement and implementation resources.
Open Shots for SchoolCDPH implementation tools for California school immunization records.
Open school record toolsUse this to find immunization records from another state.
Open CDC IIS contactsHelpful guidance for finding old paper or childhood immunization records.
Open old-record tipsSource Check and Trust Note
This guide was built from official California Department of Public Health, CAIR, Digital Vaccine Record, CDPH school immunization, CDC IIS, and public immunization-record guidance. Record access rules, school deadlines, county processes, provider participation, QR-code rules, and employer requirements can change. Always confirm final requirements with CDPH, CAIR, your local health department, your provider, your school, your employer, your college, or your civil surgeon.
California Immunization Records FAQs
Use the official CDPH Digital Vaccine Record portal. Enter the required identity and contact details. If a matching CAIR record is found, you can access a digital copy.
Open Digital Vaccine RecordCAIR is the California Immunization Registry. It stores vaccine information reported by participating providers, pharmacies, clinics, and public health programs.
Open CAIR informationThe Digital Vaccine Record is CDPH’s public portal for accessing vaccine information from CAIR when a matching record is available. It may include vaccine dates, vaccine names, and a QR code when applicable.
Read CDPH DVR informationParents and guardians can request a child’s Digital Vaccine Record. If multiple children are tied to one phone number or email, submit a separate request for each child.
Open DVR request formCDPH says the Digital Vaccine Record is an official record and can be used for school or childcare entry and work. The school may still follow its own recordkeeping process, such as the Blue Card.
CDPH DVR record useThe Blue Card is the California School Immunization Record, also called CSIR or CDPH 286. School and childcare staff use it to record required vaccine information based on the proof provided by parents or guardians.
Open Blue Card resourcesSome doses may not show because a provider has not reported them, there is a reporting delay, the vaccine was given outside California, or the record does not match your name, date of birth, phone, or email.
Read DVR FAQStart with the provider or pharmacy that gave the vaccine. They may need to correct or verify the information. You can also use CAIR Help Desk information when the record issue is not resolved.
CDC California IIS contact detailsPharmacy vaccines may appear if they were reported and matched correctly. If a pharmacy dose is missing, check the pharmacy account and ask the pharmacy for vaccine documentation.
Often yes, if the organization accepts the Digital Vaccine Record. But employers, schools, colleges, and travel programs can set their own proof instructions, so ask before assuming.
SMART Health Cards informationTry the Digital Vaccine Record portal, old pediatrician, school records, county health department, family paper files, pharmacy records, and previous state registries if the shots were given outside California.
Old-record search tipsContact the immunization registry in the state where the vaccine was given, then bring the record to your California provider, school, employer, or local health department for review.
Find other state registriesSometimes. Titers may help for certain vaccines, especially for healthcare work or college programs, but the requesting organization decides whether titers are accepted. Ask before paying for lab tests.
CDC lists California immunization record help through CAIR at 800-578-7889 and CAIRHelpDesk@cdph.ca.gov. Your provider, pharmacy, local health department, school, or employer may also be the best first contact depending on why you need the record.
CDC IIS contactsNo. ImmunizationRecord.org is an independent informational guide. Use CDPH, CAIR, your local health department, your provider, school, employer, college, or civil surgeon as the final authority.