Computer Registry A Life Or Death Issue

Childhood immunizations are widely regarded as essential to ensuring lasting good health. The vast majority of parents immunize their children on schedule against once-common, often-fatal diseases. Utilizing modern technology, public health officials have devised a way to make the process even easier and safer: computer registries of vaccination history that can be accessed by any authorized nurse or doctor.

Even the most organized parents have to scramble a bit every time they’re required to produce their child’s entire vaccination history. If your records are incomplete and you’ve moved or changed doctors, it’s a challenge. Immunization registries not only help ensure that a child’s shots are up to date, but also prevent over-vaccination.

Opponents cry of yet more government intrusion into our personal lives. This attitude is somewhat understandable, but we shouldn’t let paranoia stand in the way of real benefit.

Others argue invasion of privacy. Some people should consider this the next time they complete a meaningless survey asking for personal information, possibly even launched onto the Internet, for, say, a packet of coupons. Yet, when it comes to lack of privacy in the medical arena, on information likely to be accessed only by authorized health care professionals, they balk. Makes one wonder if privacy is the real issue.

Not only should we fully utilize immunization registries, they should be expanded. With the registry system in place, why not provide a complete medical database for anyone who wants one? It could save lives. Imagine that your grandmother is visiting and she needs emergency medical care. She’s unconscious, and you have no idea who her physician is, what medication she’s taking or any other details of her health history. For any doctor to have instant access to her medical records could be a matter of life and death.