Immunization Registry Bill Clears Senate Panel Passes Measure To Track Shots Statewide

Plans to start tracking child immunizations statewide so more children get their shots on time cleared a Senate committee Wednesday, despite opposition from the Idaho Christian Coalition.

The coalition expressed concerns that information might get out without parents’ written consent, but the committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill.

“I think we addressed that,” said Sen. Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’Alene. “Going onto the registry will be voluntary. If a parent says, `No, I don’t want to be on the registry,’ they won’t be.”

Riggs said as a physician, he would strongly encourage parents to get on the registry.

The measure, SB 1183, sets up a statewide registry of immunizations that can be accessed by doctors, hospitals, other care providers, schools, day-care centers and the like. It would allow health-care providers to share the information.

“Now, every time there’s a movement of the record, it requires a separate (information) release,” said Riggs, who is sponsoring the bill for Gov. Dirk Kempthorne.

Under the registry plan, it would be easier for parents and health-care providers to keep track of who is up to date on immunizations, and remind those who need shots, Riggs said.

Idaho has the second-lowest rate of child immunizations by age 2 of any state, at around 70 percent. Kempthorne has made increasing that figure to 90 percent one of his top goals.

Testifying in favor of the bill on Wednesday were representatives of public health districts, the state Health and Welfare Department, the Idaho Medical Association, the Idaho Hospital Association, and Jim Hawkins, the former state commerce director who is heading up Kempthorne’s push to address early childhood issues.

“Immunization is extremely important to the health, well-being and safety of children,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said the state opted not to make the immunization registry open to the public like some other states have chosen.

Nancy Bloomer of the Idaho Christian Coalition said her group “fully supports parents immunizing their children,” but she fears the legislation opens the door to increased access to people’s private medical information.

“It’s a basic principle that the government should be required to ask for permission from a citizen before any monitoring or tracking is considered,” she said.

She added, “Our biggest concern is that we want it not mandated, but that parents have the option to immunize their children or not.”

With the Senate Health & Welfare Committee’s endorsement Wednesday, the bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote. If it passes both there and in the House, it would go to the governor to be signed into law.

This sidebar appeared with the story: LEARN MORE ON THE NET The full text of SB 1183 is posted on the state Legislature’s Internet site, which can be accessed from http://www.state.id.us.