Updating vaccines

In our area, immunizations are now handled through the pharmacies. 

This started just after lockdown, with the later Covid vaccines. Now we get all our shots at Walgreens. 

All our family’s immunization records and medication records are on one system, at Walgreens. 

This is a conscious decision we made years ago - all meds through Walgreens so our medication data is on one system. 

The state of Indiana, like many states, has a database for immunizations. All facilities upload all immunizations to the Indiana state database. Medical providers, including pharmacies, can access the state immunization records database. 

Our PCP is affiliated with the medical network we use with a great data base system. I wrote a post about this on 1/3/25. This system talks to other systems. 

So our immunization records are three places. State database, Walgreens, provider database all have all the shots we get from Walgreens listed.

Note - all my immediate family, including new granddaughter, got flu and Covid shots 2024. None of us had a reaction to the shots, other than a couple of slightly sore arms. 

In the fall of 2024, at Walgreens getting my flu shot and my Covid shot two weeks apart, the pharmacist said I was not up to date on all my vaccinations. That was a surprise. I thought I was very up to date and even had some shots early because I have asthma.

I added “missing vaccinations?” to my list for my PCP (Primary Care Provider who happens to be an internist) appointment. I see him every 6 mos.

I went to my PCP appointment 1/15/25.

I took hardcopy of my immunization records to my PCP appointment. I could not remember if the pharmacist had mentioned a specific shot.  

Some of my shots were given at the doctor I tried for a couple years (different medical record system). I thought that I was actually up to date on my immunizations and the previous doctor’s office had not updated the shots to the state database. Part of the reason I left that previous doctor was poor medical record system. 

We pieced thru my records and all my data appeared to be correct on the state database and my PCP’s database.

I was missing a shot. I had gotten the Pneumonia 13 (2018), the Pneumonia 23 (2019), but was missing the Pneumonia 20 which is the updated version. (There is now a Pneumonia 21).

I went to Walgreens that same night and got my Pneumonia 20 (2024).

I took my husband with me and he got his Pneumonia 20. He had no previous pneumonia shots. I had gotten mine early, because of my asthma. 

While we were there, the tech very carefully went through our records and discovered we were also both missing our Hepatitis B series. Our kids would have gotten these as children, but wasn’t around when we were children. 

At Walgreens on 1/15/25, we both got the first Hep B. We go back on 3/15/25 for the second shot. It is on both our calendars.

With that second shot, I will be up to date. 

My husband needs a RSV shot on 5/24/2026. I got mine last year, I could get it early because of my asthma diagnosis. He needs to get his because he lives with me. But he does not qualify until age 65.

Consolidating medical records

My priority in my medical care, at my current age of 63, includes continuity of care and good medical records. I am seen by all my doctors regularly. I am extremely compliant. My asthma/allergies and arthritis are now manageable. My migraines ceased.

We fill all prescriptions at Walgreens so our medication records are all on one system. I feel very strongly about having a single pharmacy. I use one location in our town the majority of the time. It is open 24/365. 

The Walgreens computer will likely catch drug interaction problems and errors in dosage. Our long history of medications is housed on the Walgreens computer system. When we travel, a Walgreens is usually available. A real person is available by phone or in person. 

Walgreens app is easy to use. I like their notification options. I order and correspond thru the app. My history is readily available on the app, so I can look up past medication.

I also keep a typed list of my current medications under “Walgreens” in the notes section of the address book on my phone. Then I can easily pull it up at medical appointments.

I am in the process of purposely consolidating my doctors for the same reason, to have as many of my medical records as possible on the same computer system. 

This is where I am in my consolidation process -

I have all lab work and scans, including my annual mammogram, done through one/the same medical network specifically, so those records are on one computer system. 

My PCP who happens to be an internist, my cardiologist, my physical therapist, my sleep doctor, and my OBGYN are all in this medical network/same computer system too. 

The PCP and cardiologist and physical therapist are new to me within the last 3-4 years. My sleep doctor was added 2 years ago. My OBGYN is new to me last fall. These were purposeful changes to the same medical network/computer system.

The walk in clinic, that I use for illnesses and injuries, is also in this same medical network/computer. So they have access to all my pertinent/important/main records instantly. 

This walk in clinic has many locations and is open every day 8am-8pm. It is well staffed. If I have a problem, I (now) go quickly. Access to this clinic has increased the speed at which I am seen and improved my quality of life. This is a big change for me.

On the rare occasion I go to the emergency room or am admitted to the hospital, it is in this same medical system/computer.

Starting this year, my colonoscopies will be through this same medical network/computer. I am switching doctors so this happens.

Starting this year, I am also switching my eye doctor. My current ophthalmologist is getting ready to retire. I am proactively switching to a new ophthalmologist who is on the same system as my other doctors. UPDATE - Staying with my original ophthalmologist. There isn’t one available in my primary network. 

I have three sets of doctors, I am keeping so far, who are NOT in my main medical network/computer. They are four orthopedic physicians all in the same practice  (hands, knees, back/neck, feet), my dermatologist, my asthma/allergist. 

I see all those doctors at least once a year. My records with these doctors are on separate systems at each office. 

These stand alone physicians are not easily replaced within my main medical network. So far, it is not causing problems to have the medical records separate.

My ENT is also stand alone. I see that doctor as needed, a few times a decade.

My dentist is also stand alone. I see them every 6 months. Sometimes the dentist refers me to a stand alone oral surgeon, knock on wood, that rarely happens.

My calendar

The pandemic caused my long time hair stylist to rethink her life. She switched careers and moved to a warmer climate. 

I found a new stylist, who I love. The forced change was very good for me. 

New stylist has a very full schedule and that requires advance scheduling. During the first two years, I scheduled two appointments forward/in advance. And we determined 8 weeks is my needed/preferred schedule. 

Every other appointment I get cut and highlights. The in-between-appointments are cut only. 

This third year, we scheduled all of my appointments for 2023 at my last 2022 appointment in December. That felt really fabulous. I love my calendar. 

I do the same thing with my doctor’s appointments. Some appointments are annual, some are every six months. Almost all the offices allow me to schedule a year in advance. I bundle my appointments, 6 mos apart, targeting May/June and December. 

I started this proactive medical calendar in 2019 and as we entered lock down in 2020, I was current on all my appointments, tests and shots (shingles, pneumonia, etc) and very relieved to have been proactive.

Medical binder/records and appts

About a year ago we put medical (records) binders together. These were for me, middle and youngest.  (Clicking on the medical records label below, will find that post.)


It started with middle. My mother (retired nurse) helped me go thru all middle’s papers, shred what we did not need and create an organized binder with the keepers. She actually has two binders which now live in a canvas bag and are ready to roll.

This is very handy.

So after that success, we made them for youngest and me too.




I have caught up on all my medical appts
and shots (1st shingles, pneumonia 23, flu) this year.

I even made myself a list (of my annual appts) for future years:
GP/bloodwork - February and August
Dentist - April and October
Asthma/Allergist - August
Mole check - October
Pap - October
Mammogram - December
Eye - December



And as I have gone from appt to appt, this fall, I have taken my binder with me. I have been asked for records I had with me, at almost every appt, which made things very smooth.

I switched GP’s this year. And my new GP went thru my whole binder, making notes. He also asked me about a couple things that were not in my binder. When I got home, I requested records on two old surgeries to fill in the gaps he had noticed.

At my pap yesterday, the nurse practitioner had me pull sections (from my binder that applied to that visit). And she noticed my bone density records were not in my binder. They made me a copy before I left that appt.



This (medical records binder) is something I would recommend for everyone. And something I would start for babies.

We absolutely cannot rely on medical facilities to have all records. Computer systems crash and are updated, people move, practices close, records are (shockingly) easily lost.

It is very convenient to be at an appt and have everything needed. In an emergency, or out of town specialist, it is doubly important to have records.

medical binders and recipe binders

Four of us now each have a medical binder. They are three ring binders filled with sleeve/page protectors. Medical forms go in the sleeves. There are sections, labeled wide dividers (that are made to work with sleeve/page protectors). We buy the dividers with the half circle labels so the labels do not slide out. Office Depot.  Sections include - immunizations, family records, lab work, Ortho, neuro, asthma/allergist, gyn, ENT, eye, GI, etc. Each binder has slightly different sections as we have different doctors.

Very pleased. I take my binder to doctor’s appointments. If I need to find information, I have it with me. I ask for copies of things and put it directly into a sheet protector in the binder, while I am there. No loose papers/records floating around the house.

(EOB’s and receipts/bills go in a hanging file in my file cabinet by year. Many years ago I made all the hanging files. Like 2000-2019.)

The girls use their binders exactly as I use mine. They keep their own binders. I only keep my own.



AND


I went thru two fat binders of recipes in my kitchen. They took up a lot of room. I realized I used the recipes in one binder much more than the other. I cleaned out a lot of weird things and got myself down to one 2” binder. I kept about 1/3 of the recipes and got rid of 2/3.

Middle made a recipe binder for herself and one for youngest. They all have overlapping recipes and they have unique recipes. So not exact duplicates.

Very pleased.

More than a photo album, file boxes

I am making note of this for middle.

I have written, many times, I think scrapbooking is setting most women up for (utter) failure. Expensive supplies and tools. Stuff gets piled. It just never gets done. It feels like failure, constantly.

Our photo albums are now three ring binders with archive safe pocket type pages. Different style pages are available to hold one full size sheet of paper (per side) down to (4 per side) 3 1/2 X 5 pictures. Maybe even smaller pictures. There are lots of options.

I think a very good practice is to designate one color (of binder) per child (black for oldest, aqua for middle, purple for youngest).

Each of our kids has 4-6 of their color binders (filled) now.

I just keep adding binders.

I stopped buying the binders from the photography places. I now just get the heavy duty ones from Office Depot.

And then using the different type pages, I put photos in the albums.

But what middle and I were talking about is putting all keepsakes in those albums. group pictures, cards, certificates, etc. Great/worth keeping artwork can be shrunk to 8 1/2 X 11, color copied, put in the albums too. (Sharla mentioned this concept of the three ring binder instead of scrapbooking to me long ago and I remembered).

So I am not talking about cutting up pictures or using all kinds of stickers and fluff. I am talking about just slipping things in pockets/sleeves and putting them in the three ring binder. Boom. Done.

Middle and I talked about keeping things in hanging files and having each kid have their own file box. And I think that is important too.

For things like social security cards, medical files, school paperwork/transcripts, bank records, etc a file box is really important. My kids had them by (I think) third grade as part of teaching them to be responsible for their own paperwork. Keeping and filing paperwork is an important learning tool. Really important.

I mentioned middle's idea of also having a medical notebook for each child too. Just to keep track of the who/what/when/where's of their medical care. So the child knows, later, what happened to them, where all the records are, etc.

Middle, as she has been getting ready to move into her apartment, has been thinking a lot about this type of stuff. Mentally picturing how she is keeping her own stuff, and how she wants to keep (her future) kids' stuff.