Bill Seeks Statewide Immunization Registry Senator Says Lack Of Records Contributes To Low Turnout

Keeping a record of immunizations all over Idaho, the second step in Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s immunization program, is the focus of legislation introduced Friday in a Senate committee.

Sen. Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’Alene, has worked on the program since November and sponsored the bill not only as a legislator, but as a physician.

“One of the big problems with Idaho’s low immunization rate is that modern society has forgotten about the big epidemics of the past,” Riggs said.

A statewide registry of immunizations, Riggs said, would allow hospitals, doctors and health-care providers to see who is on schedule and who needs to be reminded of their next vaccination.

Riggs said that accountability would increase immunizations, and that is crucial to improving Idaho’s current immunization rate of 72 percent.

“If we don’t keep immunization rates up, we will see epidemics again,” he said.

The voluntary registry would be an Internet-based, secure system. Authorization would be required in order to access the registry.

Jim Hawkins, administrator of the immunization program, said “one of the critical things about this registry is the statewide access to the data.” Right now, immunization providers can register their records, but, Hawkins said, “the data are not talking to each other.”

The registry, he added, would create a “place to store and recall all data.” The goal for the project is to boost Idaho’s current immunization rate to 90 percent. Riggs and Hawkins are optimistic the registry will do that.

“This is not Big Brother telling Idahoans what to do,” said Hawkins. “It’s simply good health and good business.”