Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to clarify language regarding exemptions.

Parents or legal guardians may exempt their minor children from obtaining certain immunizations before starting school. This law would clarify that a parent or guardian need only sign a statement of objection in any form and present it to the school.

Adds to existing law to require use of the immunization registry by licensed persons administering immunizations with exceptions, to persons over the age of 19, to provide exceptions and to provide application to certain professional licensure boards.

As the different types of healthcare providers who are immunizing patients increases, it is important to have a consistent record of those immunizations to ensure optimum patient care. Without a record, a patient may receive multiple doses of the same vaccinations. This legislation simply requires that all providers who immunize patients in Idaho shall enter all immunizations, with the exception of adult influenza vaccines, into the Idaho Immunization Reminder Information System (IRIS). This legislation does nothing to deny adult patients, or the parent or guardian of a child, the right to opt out of inclusion in the IRIS registry. Further, this is not an effort to increase the number of vaccinations in Idaho. The objective is to maintain and enhance an integrated health care system in Idaho which shares information for the benefit of patients who choose to allow their records to be included.