Do you believe your child's private medical information should be only between you and her doctor? If you do not want your child's records available for inquiries by the 5,487 active organizations and approximately 24,000 annual requests to which MIIC responds, simply complete the MIIC Privacy Setting Change Request once for each child you are opting out/editing.
You can quickly and easily opt-out of the Immtrack Registry and memos from the MIIC (Minnesota Immunization Information Connection) in partnership with the MDE (Minnesota Department of Health)--you know, the little train logo with the outline state of Minnesota, captioned, "Got your shots?"
The website of the Minnesota Department of Health, notes "You always have the option to limit access or opt-out of having your or your child's immunization record in MIIC. If you choose to limit your or your child's participation in MIIC you may do so at any time. [Emphasis from IYH, LLC.] Options include:
- Declining Immunization Reminders
MDH or another public health agency may use MIIC to help them identify recommended vaccines and remind you about these immunizations. You may choose to decline these immunization reminders.
- Limiting Access
An individual may decide to have their MIIC record "locked" to their current health care provider. Once a MIIC record is locked it cannot be viewed by other organizations, including other health care providers, schools, and child cares. Anyone who decides to lock their MIIC record may elect to unlock the record at any time or have it locked to a different health care provider.
- Opting Out
An individual may decide to opt-out of participating in MIIC. After an individual opts-out of MIIC, the demographic record is locked so it is not available to any MIIC users. The record is not deleted because that is the only way to ensure users do not re-enroll the same individual. Anyone who initially decides to opt-out may elect at a later time to opt-in. There is no penalty to choosing not to participate in MIIC."
If you do not opt-out, according to state statute 144.3351, educational institutes, childcare facilities, community action groups, community health boards, and the health commissioner "may exchange immunization data with one another, without the patient's consent, if the person requesting access provides services on behalf of the patient. ...[including] patient's name, address, date of birth, gender, parent or guardian's name; and date vaccine was received, vaccine type, lot number, and manufacturer of all immunizations received by the patient, and whether there is a contraindication or an adverse reaction indication. This section applies to all immunization data, regardless of when the immunization occurred."
Besides, you can save a tree and avoid those pesky "vaccine status" letters in the mail, month after month!
Marie K. MacPherson is wife to Ryan, homeschooling mother to their six living children, and redeemed child of God. They make their home in Mankato, MN. She is a certified Classical Lutheran Educator from CCLE, author of Meditations on the Vocation of Motherhood (2018), and editor of Mothering Many: Sanity-Saving Strategies(2016). She is also the author of LFL’s booklets The Story of Baby Shalom (2017) and Teaching Children Chastity: Talking Points for Christian Parents (2020). She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Bethany Lutheran College, with Lutheran school certification and a specialty in communication arts and literature. Marie is an advocate for mothers, serving as a La Leche League Leader for over six years and a volunteer at a local pro-life pregnancy clinic. When she’s not caring for her own children, or the mothers of other children, Marie reads extensively, researching natural health, homeschooling, evangelism, marriage, and parenting. Read her contributions to Blest the House; The Hausvater Project; Sister, Daughter, Mother, Wife; and Lutherans for Life. Follow her blog at: www.intoyourhandsllc.com/blog.
