New Jersey Bill Requires Automatic Enrollment in State Electronic Vaccine Tracking Registry

Lawmakers in New Jersey have approved legislation that would require enrollment in the state’s electronic vaccine tracking registry, unless citizens actively opt out in writing. The bill for an “opt-out” vaccine tracking system, rather than operating an “opt-in” system, comes in response to decreased vaccination rates in recent years and health officials maintain it will help them more efficiently track vaccination rates.^{1, 2}

The Senate Health Committee bill S1956 was sponsored by Senators Joe Vitale and Paul Moriarty. It passed by a vote of 5-3. Under the bill, residents of New Jersey born prior to 1998 would be eligible for enrollment by request or automatically upon receiving a vaccine. Those born after 1998 will be automatically enrolled unless a parent or legal guardian provides a written request to opt out.^{1, 2}

Health Commissioner Can Block Opting Out of the Registry During Disease Outbreaks

The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Health to temporarily deny requests to opt out of the vaccine tracking registry during a declared public health emergency, state of emergency, or outbreak of a communicable disease like measles or pertussis (whooping cough). Proponents of the bill say the bill does not mandate vaccines but prioritizes electronic tracking and recordkeeping, improves the responsiveness of public health officials during emergency declarations, and offers more effective roll outs of information about vaccination.^{1, 2}

“By making the NJIIS registry an opt-out system rather than an opt-in, the state will be able to gather more data to be better prepared for the next pandemic,” said the bill’s sponsor Sen. Vitale.²

Bill Critics Cite Privacy and Civil Liberty Concerns

Critics of the bill believe automatic enrollment in an electronic vaccine uptake surveillance system could have the opposite and unintended consequence of turning some away from vaccination.²

Sen. Robert W. Singer opposed the bill citing a violation of privacy and civil liberties.

“I voted ‘No’ on S-1956 because no one should be automatically added to a vaccine database without their informed consent,” Sen. Singer said. “Furthermore, allowing a government bureaucrat to temporarily suspend the right to opt out raises serious concerns about civil liberties and medical autonomy. These deeply personal health decisions belong with individuals and families, and their doctor, plain and simple. That’s a line I won’t cross, and I won’t support any measure that does.”¹

Bill Pushed with Concerns About Measles Outbreak

Mainstream news outlets sharing the passing of the bill cited the recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report confirming 1,024 measles cases across 31 states. The report cited the deaths of three children who contracted measles, two of which were reported as being unvaccinated.^1,2

“As a pediatrician, words cannot express the angst that is felt in our profession when we know these deaths were preventable,” said Jennifer Chuang, vice president-elect of the New Jersey chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).²

According to Sen. Vitale, vaccination rates will remain private and religious or medical exemptions would remain unchanged.³

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