Rules committee approves vaccine registry

A legislative rules committee has approved rules for a vaccination registry in New Hampshire.  The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will now begin working with health care providers to set up the registry, called the Immunization Information System (IIS).

According to the Department of Health and Human Services:

"[The IIS] consolidates a listing of all immunizations an individual has received, providing for a comprehensive and accurate record for both patient and health care provider. It will prevent the administration of duplicate immunizations, especially when a patient may be seen in another health care practice, an emergency room, or an urgent care center. It will also track vaccine lots in one location and during an outbreak of disease it would enable public health officials to identify those who may need vaccination or medication to prevent the spread of potentially life-threatening illness."

New Hampshire is the last state in the country to establish a vaccine registry.

Opponents argue that a registry violates patient privacy.  Patients may choose to opt out of the registry, but some argue that patients should have to actively opt in.

Other opponents are concerned that DHHS will still keep records of anyone who chooses to opt out of the registry, even though a patient opting out may be under the impression the government will have no record of his or her health care decisions.  Under current rules, anyone who opts out of the registry must fill out a form.  The Department of Health and Human Services keeps those forms in a physical file, but does not enter the forms into a database.

Do you have an opinion on New Hampshire's vaccination registry?  Let us know in the comments.