South Carolina Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) Practice Exam

For patients under 18 years old, how long must their vaccine records be kept?

1. 5 years

2. 10 years

3. 13 years

4. Until adulthood

The correct answer is: 13 years

For patients under 18 years old, vaccine records must be kept until the patient reaches the age of 21, which effectively means maintaining the records for 13 years. This duration aligns with the importance of ensuring that immunization records are available long enough to confirm vaccination status, particularly when patients transition into adulthood where they may face different health care needs or requirements. Keeping these records until 21 years of age provides healthcare providers with essential documentation to make informed medical decisions and helps ensure continuity of care. The intention behind this extended record-keeping is to safeguard public health by ensuring vaccinations are appropriately documented, which is vital for preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, especially in this vulnerable age group.