FACT-CHECK POLICY · PRACTICAL VERIFICATION STANDARDS
This page describes the checks we use for factual statements and the limits of those checks. It replaces earlier language that overstated the size of our team and the frequency of our review process.
What we check
For a guide about obtaining an immunization record, the most important facts are the responsible agency or organization, the official destination, who may request a record, the available request methods, and any published identification, fee, or timing requirements. We check those details against the most relevant official source available when the page is reviewed.
How different claims are verified
- Web links: We open the destination and confirm that it belongs to the organization named and addresses the topic described.
- Phone numbers, email addresses, and office hours: We compare them with the organization’s current official contact page or form. We do not claim that every number is called.
- Forms and portal names: We link to the agency or organization’s current page when possible because direct document URLs and form versions can change.
- Fees and processing times: We include them only when an official source publishes them, and we identify estimates or ranges as such.
- Medical background: We rely on sources such as the CDC or another relevant public-health authority and avoid personal recommendations.
- Legal requirements: We link to an official agency explanation or primary legal text when available and avoid interpreting how a law applies to an individual.
Source hierarchy
- Government agency, official registry, or primary legal source.
- The first-party website of the provider, pharmacy, school, or organization discussed.
- A recognized professional or peer-reviewed source for necessary background.
We do not use generative AI output, forum posts, social-media comments, or another unsourced consumer article as final proof of a factual claim.
When sources disagree
We prefer the source closest to the process and the most recently updated official instruction. If the disagreement cannot be resolved from the available material, we describe the uncertainty, remove an overly specific claim, or direct the reader to confirm with the responsible organization. We do not present a guess as a settled fact.
Timing and limitations
A check reflects what was visible at the time of review. It cannot guarantee that a third-party website, phone number, fee, form, or policy will remain unchanged. Pages are reviewed when they are created and may be revisited after a reported error, a broken link, or a known process change. We do not claim three independent verification rounds, a separate fact-checker for every guide, a quarterly review of every page, or an internal claim-by-claim log unless such a process is actually completed and documented.
Corrections
When a supported correction changes what a reader should do, we update the page and may add a dated note describing the material change. Small typographical or formatting fixes may be made silently. We do not remove a page simply to hide a confirmed error.
Report a possible error to editor@immunizationrecord.org. Include the page URL, the exact statement, and an official source when possible. We review the evidence and update the page if the correction is supported.
Medical and legal limits
Fact-checking a public source does not turn this site into a healthcare provider, law firm, government agency, or official registry. Information here is general and may not fit an individual’s circumstances. Confirm record requirements with the receiving institution and take personal medical or legal questions to a qualified professional.
Effective: September 24, 2026 · Last updated: September 24, 2026