What to do about Vaccination fiasco? Update in #25

[truly scrumptious]

Ugh.

I made the decision to split up DD's vaccinations so she was only getting one shot at a time (albeit combo shots.) So I arranged for nurse visits at her pedi's office for her to get one shot per visit.

Also, as background, the pedi's office never filled in DS's blue book (he is 2 years older than DD) but always gave me a print out of his vaccine record whenever I needed it. So I never bothered to have them fill out DD's book either.

Fast forward to her 4 month appointment. Her doc has NO RECORD of one of her shots! The only proof I have that she got it is my memory of going there for the shot, and DD's babysitter going with me (she remembers going with us.) Based on her babysitting schedule, and on our joint memory of what we did that day (going to WF, going to library) there is only one possible date she had the shot, and I couldn't be mixing it up with any other appointment. So I'm sure it happened. And the doc's office is sure it didn't.

Actually it is the nurse who gave her the shot who is sure it didn't happen. The doc is giving me the benefit of the doubt, but isn't sure what to do.

WWYD? I definitely don't want her getting the shot again, but I don't want her to have an incomplete vax record, either.

[lil_acorn]

Is there a test at all to see understand if her body has those antibodies from teh vax?

Otherwise I would also be finding another pediatrician. That is ridiculous that they don't have records of her shots. Shouldn't they also be tracking lot numbers and other data in case there is a bad batch?

[truly scrumptious]

Originally Posted by lil_acorn

Is there a test at all to see understand if her body has those antibodies from teh vax?

Good idea. Unfortunately she already had her 4 month Prevnar vax, so she'd have the antibodies from that one.

[o_mom]

All the stuff about how they should have the records aside.

For Prevnar, the schedule calls for three doses by 6 months and then a final dose at 12 mos or older. She has had either one dose (doctor's count) or two doses (your count). If she gets one more at 6 mos, she will have either two or three doses. If you wait until 12+ mo for the next dose, that will be the final dose, regardless of having 2 or 3 previous doses.

If you were planning on doing all three doses, I would research the efficacy of having only two doses followed by the final dose at 12+ mo. I know there are several good journal articles on the subject that studied periods when there were shortages and many kids only received one or two doses in the first year.

[JTsMom]

If this had to happen, that was a good one for it to happen with, imo! B/c you know she had it, and b/c it's just a paperwork thing, you might be in really good shape. Is it even a "required" school vax in your area?

Catchup schedule:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/sch...chedule-pr.pdf
so you can see what would happen if it truly hadn't been given.

[khalloc]

When I bring my kids to the doc, I have to initial next to each and every vax that they get. So if they are getting 3 vaccines that day. I initial 3 times (3 different lines, 1 for each shot)

[Green_Tea]

It's interesting that so many people have had to initial/sign off when their DCs receive vaxes. I have three kids and in 8.5 years I have never once had to initial or sign anything when they were vaxed. We've been with two different ped practices (each with multiple peds) in 2 different states.

Is this a state by state law?

[JBaxter]

Originally Posted by Green_Tea

It's interesting that so many people have had to initial/sign off when their DCs receive vaxes. I have three kids and in 8.5 years I have never once had to initial or sign anything when they were vaxed. We've been with two different ped practices (each with multiple peds) in 2 different states.

Is this a state by state law?

Always have to sign off reading the page of side effects and now have to initial in the chart

[arivecchi]

Originally Posted by Green_Tea

It's interesting that so many people have had to initial/sign off when their DCs receive vaxes. I have three kids and in 8.5 years I have never once had to initial or sign anything when they were vaxed. We've been with two different ped practices (each with multiple peds) in 2 different states.

Is this a state by state law?

I don't recall signing anything either. I do get the sheets about the vaccine. If I were doing an alternative vax schedule, I would probably keep my own records because I would be worried about this very thing. Sorry that happened OP. I like o_mom's advice.

[kbud]

I've never had to sign anything. My 2 are 7 and 3.

OK, guess I'm the devil's advocate but if the insurance and the dr. office have no record I'd be inclined to say the shot wasn't given. Are they saying you weren't even there that day or didn't get the shot on that day? I'm sure from a liability stand point if they have no paperwork it didn't happen. I just find it hard to believe you could go to a dr. office, receive a shot and they have no record of it. It that truly did happen then yes, you need a new doc. Of course since you've been delaying vacs you are probably more aware of what has been given and what hasn't. We don't delay and just get what they tell us so I'm not as up on what they've received just that they are up to date and I do have them sign the little card for my records.