Frequently
Asked Questions
What
is CHILD Profile?
How can CHILD Profile materials help me?
What if I want to receive the materials in another
language?
What is the CHILD Profile Immunization Registry?
How does the CHILD Profile Registry help me?
Who can see my child's records?
How can I receive the health promotion mailings?
How can I access my child's immunization record?
What if I do not wish to participate?
Why are immunizations so important for my child?
Why are immunization records necessary?
How can I keep track of my child's immunizations?
What is CHILD Profile?
CHILD (Children's Health, Immunizations, Linkages and Development) Profile
is a health promotion and immunization registry system to help Washington
State's children, birth to age 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 child check-ups and immunizations.
These mailings also contain up-to-date health, safety, and development
tips specific to your child's age. Health experts, with input from parents,
prepare these materials.
Mailings are sent
out every few months until children reach 18 months of age. Thereafter,
parents receive mailings every six months until children are 6 years old.
BACK
TO TOP
What
if I want to receive the materials in another language?
All CHILD Profile mailings are available in Spanish. If you want to receive
the mailings in Spanish, call the Family Health Hotline, a program of
WithinReach
at 1-800-322-2588 or e-mail CHILD Profile at child-profile.health@kingcounty.gov.
If you are interested
in receiving the mailings in any other language or another format, call
the Family Health Hotline (1-800-322-2588).
BACK
TO TOP
What
is the CHILD Profile Immunization Registry?
It 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.
BACK
TO TOP
How
does the CHILD Profile Registry help me?
If your doctor or clinic takes part in the Registry, the office or clinic
can use it to:
- keep track of all
immunizations your child has had and who gave them, even when you move,
change providers or lose your immunization card.
- see what vaccines
your child needs at each visit
- print out a record
of immunizations for you when your child starts childcare, school, camp,
or whenever you need it.
The information in
the Registry is confidential. CHILD Profile will only give immunization
information to you, your child's doctor, nurse, or clinic to help protect
the health of your child. Individuals or parents may obtain their immunization
information directly from CHILD Profile by sending in a signed Authorization
to Release form.
More
information on obtaining a record.
BACK
TO TOP
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.
BACK
TO TOP
How
can I receive the Health Promotion mailings?
If your child
is under age 6 and you reside in Washington State, you should be
receiving the CHILD Profile materials by mail. The information comes from the public portion of the state birth certificate.
Families who move
into Washington can add their children to the mailing list. Adoptive or
foster parents can also sign up to receive the CHILD Profile mailings.
If you are not currently
getting the materials, e-mail CHILD Profile at child-profile.health@kingcounty.gov or call the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.
BACK
TO TOP
How
can I access my child's immunization record?
You may obtain your own or your children's information from CHILD
Profile. However, CHILD Profile does not contain complete immunization
records for all individuals. It's a good idea to check with your health
care provider first to see if they can provide the needed information.
If you cannot get
a complete immunization history from your provider, you may 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 you may complete the Authorization
to Release form* (in Spanish: Autorización
para entregar documentos de inmunizaciones), and mail or fax it to:
CHILD Profile
401 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1000
Seattle, WA 98104
Fax: 206-205-4146
If you phone, you
will be asked to provide identifying information, such as name, date of
birth, and address. At that time, you will be informed whether or not
a record exists in CHILD Profile, 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 as soon as possible, usually within 3-5 days.
* 
What
if I do not wish to participate?
If you do not want to receive CHILD Profile mailings, call the Family
Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.
If you do not wish
to have your child's immunizations entered into the 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
the CHILD Profile office:
401 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1000
Seattle, WA 98104
206-205-4141 or 1-800-325-5599
BACK
TO TOP
Why
are immunizations so important for my child?
- Immunizations (vaccinations)
are the single most important way you can protect your child against
serious, and sometimes deadly, diseases.
- Many of the diseases
that vaccines prevent cannot be treated or cured. Many of them are especially
dangerous for infants and young children.
- These diseases
spread easily from person to person. Even one infected person can cause
an outbreak of disease.
BACK
TO TOP
Why
are immunization records necessary?
Keeping a record of immunizations helps make sure your child receives
all the vaccines s/he needs at the right times.
All children need
a record of their immunizations before they go to childcare, school, camp,
college, the military, long-term care facilities, or for travel or employment.
The record is also
helpful if you change clinics. It tells your new doctor or nurse which
vaccines your child has had. This assures s/he does not get more doses
than needed.
BACK
TO TOP
How
can I keep track of my child's immunizations?
The best way for you to keep track is to get a history card from your
doctor, nurse, or clinic. You may also have received the card in your
introductory CHILD Profile packet. If you don't already have one, the
Family Health Hotline (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 s/he participates in the Registry.
BACK
TO TOP
|
