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Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
What is Child Profile?
Child Profile is a health promotion and immunization registry system to help Washington State
kids aged birth to six get preventive health services. The two main components are:
- Free age-specific health education information mailed to Washington State parents.
- A computer system in Washington State that keeps track of children's immunizations.
How can Child Profile materials help me?
Child Profile sends reminders to parents for well-child
checkups and immunizations. These mailings also contain
up-to-date health, safety, and development tips specific to a child's age. Health experts, with input from parents, prepare these materials.
Mailings are sent out every few months until kids reach
age 18 months. After that, parents get mailings every six months until kids are six years old.
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What if I want to get the materials in another language?
All Child Profile materials are available in
English and Spanish. If you want to get the mailings in Spanish, call the
Family Health Hotline, a program of
WithinReach, at 1-800-322-2588 or
e-mail Child Profile.
If you're interested in getting the mailings in any other language or in another format, call the
Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.
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What is the Child Profile Immunization Registry?
The Child Profile Immunization Registry is a computer system in Washington State used by many doctors and clinics to help providers keep track of the immunizations your child has received.
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How does the Child Profile Immunization Registry help me?
If your doctor or clinic uses the Immunization Registry, the office or clinic can:
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Keep track of all immunizations your child has had
and who gave them, even if you move, change
providers, or lose your immunization records.
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See what vaccines your child needs at each visit.
Print out a record of immunizations for you when
your child starts child care, school, camp, or
whenever you need it.
The information in the Immunization Registry is confidential. Child Profile will only give
immunization information to you or your child's
doctor, nurse, or clinic to help protect the health of your child. Individuals or parents may get their immunization information directly from
Child Profile by sending in a signed Authorization to Release form (PDF, 100KB). A
Spanish Authorization to Release form (PDF,
27KB) is also available.
More information on obtaining a record
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Who can see my child's records?
Health care providers (as defined by the Washington State Health Care Information Act,
RCW 70.02) who need
immunization information in order to provide health care to a client, can access Child Profile to see past
immunization information. They can also record immunizations given to the client.
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How can I get the health promotion mailings?
If your child is under age six and you live in Washington State, you should already be getting the Child Profile Health Promotion materials
by mail. The information comes from the public portion of your child's Washington State birth certificate.
Families who move to Washington State after their child is born can add their child to the mailing list. Adoptive parents can also
sign up to get the mailings. Foster parents and kinship
caregivers can contact Child Profile to get a one-time
packet of all the materials sent out in all the
mailings.
If you're not currently getting the materials,
e-mail Child Profile or call the
Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.
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How can I access my or my child's immunization records?
You may obtain your own or your child's immunization
records from Child Profile. However, the Child Profile Immunization Registry does not contain complete immunization records for all people. It's a good idea to check with your health care provider first to see if they can get you the information you need.
If you can't get a complete immunization history from your provider, contact Child Profile to find out if
the Immunization Registry contains any immunizations for you or your child. Call Child Profile at 206-205-4141 or 1-800-325-5599. Or, fill out the
Authorization to Release form (PDF, 100KB). A
Spanish Authorization to Release form (PDF,
27KB) is also available. Mail or fax the form to:
Child Profile
401 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1000
Seattle, Washington 98104
Fax: 206-205-4146
When you call, you'll be asked to provide identifying information, such as name, date of birth, and address.
At that time, Child Profile will tell you whether or not a record exists in the system, but no other information will be released over the phone.
This is to protect the privacy and confidentiality of your information. Once the signed Authorization to Release form is received, Child Profile
will mail or fax the immunization record to you within
three to five days.
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What if I don't want to participate?
If you don't want to get mailings from Child Profile, call the
Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.
If you don't want your child's immunizations entered into the Immunization Registry, talk with your doctor
or nurse. If they use the Child Profile Immunization Registry, they can take steps to honor your request.
You may also contact Child Profile at:
401 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1000
Seattle, Washington 98104
Phone:
206-205-4141 or 1-800-325-5599 (toll free)
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Why are immunizations so important for my child?
Immunizations are the single most important way you can protect your child against serious and sometimes deadly diseases.
Many of the diseases that vaccines prevent can't be treated or cured. Many of them are especially dangerous for infants and young kids.
These diseases spread easily from person to person. Even one infected person can cause an outbreak of disease.
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Why are immunization records necessary?
Keeping a record of immunizations helps make sure kids gets all the vaccines they need at the right times.
All kids need a record of their immunizations before they go to child care, school, camp, college, the
military, long-term care facilities, or for travel or employment.
Immunization records are also helpful if you change clinics. It
tells your new doctor or nurse which vaccines your child has had so they don't get more doses than needed.
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How can I keep track of my child's immunizations?
The best way for you to keep track of your child's immunizations is to get a history card from your doctor, nurse, or clinic. As part of the
Child Profile Health Promotion mailings, you get a
Lifetime Immunization Record Card in the introductory packet. If you don't already have one, call the
Family Health Hotline at 1-800-833-6388 to request a card. Take it to every checkup so it can be marked with the vaccines your child gets. Keep it in a safe place.
The CHILD Profile Immunization Registry can also help you keep track of immunizations. Check with your doctor or nurse to see if they participate in the Immunization Registry.
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to users who are unable to download or view them. For persons
with disabilities, PDF documents will be made available on
request in other formats. To submit a request, e-mail
ImmuneMaterials@doh.wa.gov
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