Nope, neither I nor my hubby have ever heard of these things before.
We’ve been around for 50 years and our son for just 13. No one has ever asked for cards, though we’ve never moved since son was born. I’ve been through several MIL contractor classified workplaces and never had to show any such thing, nor received any.
I had a TB shot at college when I couldn’t prove I had one, and they didn’t give me a card.
In 2013 I got a tetanus shot in prep for major surgery at the hospital. No card.
I don’t think this is as mandatory as everyone says.
They’re supposed to issue you a card for your records. You may be the ones that fell through the cracks. Note all the other people talking about it. There are a *few* states where they don’t issue cards by law, but everywhere else it is a thing.
Note this section from the Wikipedia entry on the smallpox vaccine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox_vaccine
“In the United States vaccination was regulated by individual states, the first to impose compulsory vaccination being Massachusetts in 1809. There then followed sequences of compulsion, opposition and repeal in various states. By 1930 Arizona, Utah, North Dakota and Minnesota prohibited compulsory vaccination, 35 states allowed regulation by local authorities, or had no legislation affecting vaccination, whilst in ten states, including Washington, D.C. and Massachusetts, infant vaccination was compulsory.[74] Compulsory infant vaccination was regulated by only allowing access to school for those who had been vaccinated.[75] Those seeking to enforce compulsory vaccination argued that the public good overrode personal freedom, a view supported by the U.S. Supreme Court in Jacobson v. Massachusetts in 1905, a landmark ruling which set a precedent for cases dealing with personal freedom and the public good.”
Also, FYI:
https://eziz.org/assets/docs/IMM-222School.pdf
“California schools are required to check immunization records for all new student admissions at TK/Kindergarten through 12th grade and all students advancing to 7th grade before entry. Parents must show their child’s Immunization Record as proof of immunization.”
https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/school/school-requirements.aspx
“Documentation
Since many types of personal immunization records are in use, any document will be acceptable provided a physician or public health personnel has validated it. The month, day, and year that the vaccination was received must be recorded on all school immunization records created or updated after September 1, 1991.”
https://health.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Parent-Guide-to-Imm-Rules.pdf
“What Document(s) Do I Need to Take to My Child’s School or Child Care?Parents must provide schools with a certified immunization record from the Wyoming Immunization Registry (WyIR), a U.S. licensed physician, or a Public Health Authority, or provide another form of evidence of immunity, or an approved waiver.”
Two states I’ve lived in, one I haven’t. There are states that require all paper certificates to be entered into a database - and in fact, no longer issue paper certificates because of their registry - like Tennessee:
“If not using the ICVT, blank or pre-populated forms can be printed from the Registry website (above). The ICVT cannot be used for children who have a medical exemption. Pre-populated Certificates include demographic information and vaccination dates. If the child’s Registry record is incomplete or if none exists, users can update or create a record before printing the Certificate. Fields may be completed by hand.”
Just looked - Maryland has a vaccine registry: https://md.myir.net/rorl?next=/
That’s likely why your son hasn’t gotten cards for prior vaccinations. They issued digital ‘cards’ instead.
The law establishing ImmuNet in MD and requiring its use is Article §18–109 of the Code of Maryland. It dates back to at least 2005.