Adult Immunization Registry (H 7882, S 2530A)

Some of the most concerning civil liberties legislation this year came in the form of legislation dealing with your health. This included bills to require that all adult immunization records be automatically included in a DOH database unless the patient opts out. This was the latest in a series of bills and regulatory measures from the DOH weakening patient confidentiality. Just last year, for example, the agency supported legislation giving law enforcement access to the Department’s prescription drug monitoring database without a warrant. The ACLU believes that when it comes to important medical information, it should be up to the patient to opt in, rather than impose the burden on them to opt out. The Senate passed the legislation in May, but the House did not.