Whether you're relocating to Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, the Iowa City corridor, or a smaller Iowa community, getting your children's medical records organized before school enrollment saves weeks of scrambling. Here is exactly how to transfer records, update Iowa's immunization registry, and get your family set up with new providers.
Last verified: September 1, 2026
Under federal law (HIPAA Right of Access), your previous providers must release your child's medical records upon written request. Start this process at least 2–4 weeks before your move date.
Iowa's immunization registry, IRIS (Immunization Registry Information System), is maintained by Iowa Health and Human Services. Your child's out-of-state immunization records will not automatically appear in IRIS — you must bring them to an Iowa provider to have them entered.
At your child's first Iowa well-child visit, bring the official immunization certificate from your previous state. The new provider will enter the doses into IRIS.
Iowa schools specifically require the Certificate of Immunization — a standardized form generated from IRIS or signed by a physician. A printout from your previous state's registry is not sufficient.
Iowa requires Hepatitis A (2 doses) for kindergarten entry — a requirement many other states don't have. If your child was up to date in your previous state, they may still need Hep A catch-up doses for Iowa.
Iowa's 327 school districts each handle enrollment independently, but the state requirements are the same everywhere:
Iowa allows provisional enrollment for children who are behind on immunizations but have started a catch-up schedule. The school will set a compliance timeline. Contact your new school's office at least 2 weeks before the first day to begin the enrollment process.
Iowa's larger metro areas (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport) have strong pediatric networks through health systems like UnityPoint Health, MercyOne, and University of Iowa Health Care. Smaller communities may have fewer options.
Moving across state lines means your child's records are scattered across providers, registries, and portals that don't talk to each other. Family Stork fixes that.
Give your new Iowa pediatrician your child's private @families.familystork.com address. They send visit summaries and immunization records — the health timeline builds itself. When the school asks for the Certificate of Immunization, your complete record is already organized.
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Give any Iowa clinic your child's private @familystork address. They send records; the timeline builds itself. No portal logins, no uploads, nothing for the clinic to learn.
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