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?

[daisymommy]

They are required to have you sign a form, stating that you give consent and understand the risks. Then they write down the lot number that it was drawn from. So they should have a paper record on file, but they'll need to dig it up. If they aren't doing this at all--I wouldn't be going there anymore!

[JTsMom]

There's no way I'd do an extra for paperwork reasons. Which one was it?

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by daisymommy

They are required to have you sign a form, stating that you give consent and understand the risks. Then they write down the lot number that it was drawn from. So they should have a paper record on file, but they'll need to dig it up. If they aren't doing this at all--I wouldn't be going there anymore!

I'd have them look for this, too. Also, what about checking with your insurance? Even if it's 100% covered, you should have an EOB for it.

[wendibird22]

Could you contact your insurance co for a record of their claim submission (assuming your insurance covers vax fees)?

[truly scrumptious]

Thanks for the suggestions.

There is no insurance claim (I already checked.) It is possible that they charged the insurance once for all her vaxes, but then split them up.

I'll have them look into the signed paper/consent. I think I recall signing something. Again, they may have asked for one signature for all her vaxes.

I already asked them to look into their vax records and see what they had signed out, etc., and they said there was nothing signed out for that date. The nurse who did the vax is new, and I don't know where the disconnect occurred, so either she didn't record it at all, or their system has a problem with it.

I am so bummed because we love this pedi. We went in today for another vax, and the doc is going to investigate whether their system could have lost the data - he believes me at least. And I won't let her be vaxed twice for something like this.

Such a mess!

[truly scrumptious]

Originally Posted by JTsMom

There's no way I'd do an extra for paperwork reasons. Which one was it?

It was Prevnar.

[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.

[georgiegirl]

There should be signed paperwork for each vax. We also did one per visit and I had to sign each time. How annoying and unacceptable that they dropped the ball on this.