With Idaho's child immunization rate among the worst in the nation, lawmakers are revamping the state's immunization reminder system to try to cover more people.  The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted unanimously this afternoon in favor of SB 1335 - a measure sponsored by the committee's chairwoman and several other lawmakers - to automatically enroll Idaho children in the reminder system unless their parents opt out. Currently, Idaho's one of just five states where parents have to actively opt in to the reminder and tracking system.

"This is something that will help so many parents," said Senate Health and Welfare Chairwoman Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston. Idaho's immunization rates are so low that its rate for measles is lower than that of Indonesia, Pakistan or Croatia, and its rate for polio is below that of Botswana, Latvia and Sri Lanka, according to the Idaho Division of Health. Overall, just 57.6 percent of Idaho children have the recommended immunizations, according to the 2007-08 National Immunization Survey. Washington was at 73.7 percent, and the national average is 77.2 percent. Still, Lodge faced opposition from the Idaho Freedom Foundation to her bill. Lobbyist Eric Makrush told the committee his group is concerned about "protection of parental rights," and said, "We think the opt-in program is actually working pretty well." You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

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