By: Savannah Scarborough, Follow South Jersey Intern
SOUTH JERSEY – The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has announced its plan to increase access to digital immunization records for New Jersey residents. Docket, the free digital app, has expanded to give individuals and their families the option to access all of their records including influenza, MMR, HPV, hepatitis, and more, that are available in the state’s immunization records system.
Residents’ access to vaccination records through the app depends on which healthcare provider individuals have and whether the provider has submitted their information to the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS), the state’s central repository for immunization records.
All individuals with an email or phone number on file with the New Jersey Immunization System can access and download their vaccination records.
Based on new regulations, any dose of vaccination given to those under seven years of age is required by the state to be reported to NJIIS. Therefore, total vaccination records are more likely to be complete in NJIIS than those of adolescents and adults.
The New Jersey Docket app, introduced last summer, initially only included COVID-19 vaccine and booster records. The app is handy for proof of COVID-19 vaccination, for losing your vaccination card is highly likely, and often individuals need to access their record quickly. The app’s updated version 2.2.44 will expand access to further vaccine records.
Docket, developed by New York-based Docket Health, Inc., is a secure way for you and your family to access your vaccination records. And you can provide access to your vaccination records to other family members, and they can do the same for their records to you through shared accounts.
“Digital vaccination records enable simple access for individuals who wish to access their records for any reason, such as keeping track of when they may be due for certain vaccines,” said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “Expanding access to those records that are available provides convenience, especially for parents.”
The docket app is CDC-approved and adheres to federal and state data security and privacy standards. NJIIS captures an individual’s name, phone number, and demographic details, which were shared at the time of vaccination, and then transferred to the Docket app. NJIIS also exchanges data with neighboring jurisdictions for New Jerseyans who have received vaccines in Connecticut, Delaware, New York City, New York State, Philadelphia, and Rhode Island. This data shows a person’s COVID-19 and other virus immunization records.
Docket has been downloaded by 1.3 million individuals. These individuals have accessed over 1.8 million personal and family COVID-19 immunization records through NJIIS.
A new immunization record PDF accompanies the app update as well. This PDF may be shared as needed during back-to-school season, employee onboarding, and international travel. The app will also include alerts for upcoming and overdue immunizations in future Docket updates coming in the months ahead.
Individuals should reach out to their healthcare provider if they do not see their full immunization record on Docket. The app is available in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Ukrainian, with more language translations coming soon.
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