![]() This week parents across the state started receiving letters like the one to the right from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) addressed to “The Parents” of their soon to be kindergartners. In short, the form discusses how protecting Hoosier children from vaccine preventable diseases is of highest importance of public health and to ensure this measure is carried out certain vaccinations are required* for the child to begin Kindergarten in the fall. Utilizing a religious exemption nullifies the required vaccines. If you have questions about the available exemptions, please check out our blog post HERE. I have received a few concerned phone calls and text messages about the meaning of these letters. Certainly, a letter like this would frighten Hoosiers who have declined one or more of the vaccines listed on the form. To clarify, all this letter means is that ISDH is reminding you to take your child in for the remainder of the vaccinations required* for school. Simple as that. Many might wonder what steps to take next. Some families may opt to call their provider to double check vaccination status, verifying what their child may need, and work with the provider accordingly. Alternatively, some families may object to the missing vaccinations and not want to pursue scheduling them. For the later of you, you will just need to submit an exemption form to the school which is found in the blog post mentioned above. Parents may also be concerned about how the ISDH was able to obtain the individual records. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to delve a little further into “CHIRP” or the Children & Hoosiers Immunization Registry Program. This program is run by the state board of health and allows physicians and other health care providers to enter the immunization records of patients. Previously, I had believed that this was something an individual must agree to, however in reviewing the exclusion form that is not correct. Providers and other authorized users, like school nurses, may submit immunization records without consent of the individual, parent, or guardian. You can read more on CHIRP HERE or HERE. While CHIRP may be helpful for tracking immunizations across multiple providers some may feel it is a violation of privacy. It IS possible to remove an individual from the registry. I have found two different forms to do so. The first was at the CHIRP homepage, if you scroll down you will see “File downloads” on the right hand side. About half way down you will see “User Removal Form.” You can print the form out and submit as directed on the form. The second and perhaps more comprehensive option is on the ISDH website. You will find the same form as above in the first section titled “Forms and Reference Guides for Providers.” In the next section “Forms for Parents and Patients” you will find a form titled “Immunization Registry Data Exclusion Request.” For a government form, this is pretty easy to follow. Fill out the information at the top and then select the exemption type in section B. Most likely you will want to complete both types. You may wish to fill out the form and make copies. Keep one copy for yourself, submit another to the address on the form, and then to any additional to providers. Prior to removing an individual from the registry I strongly recommend collecting all data, printing it off, and storing it in a secure location. You never know if you will need this information in the future and it is better to be safe than sorry. Please see section D of the Immunization Registry Data Exclusion Request for details. Once removed from the registry the ISDH and the public-school systems will not have access to records and you will no longer receive letters as mentioned above. I hope this has answered all your questions about the letter and what your options are. Please feel free to message us with any further questions or concerns at contact@hoosiersformedicalliberty.com
8 Comments
Erika H
11/25/2020 10:15:57 pm
I noticed that they could get medical information without my consent and it was shocking! Plus, they do not really specify a limit on who can access this database. Schools can access it and I am sure with a few clicks other government agencies can access it too. I am sure this would be done without notifying me for reasons I may not even be aware of. No thank you!
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Hoosiers for Medical Liberty
11/27/2020 02:24:55 pm
It is very shocking! Individuals are not made aware of who has accessed the record.
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Lisa
2/14/2022 09:57:50 am
What do schools do with the information in chirp? Why are they looking?
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Hoosiers for Medical Liberty
2/15/2022 03:58:26 pm
Hi Lisa,
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Hoosiers for Medical Liberty
6/22/2022 07:54:34 pm
No you are not required to release your records. If your child has had any vaccinations they are likely in the CHIRP registry.
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Angela
5/17/2023 09:04:31 am
I am completing State Form 52308 for each of my children to be enrolled in a school. The school "requires" the CHIRP release form to be signed. The release form does not have an opt-out or "do not consent" option. It appears that law mandates the school to enter data into CHIRP, or they are noncompliant. The school nurse is very nice, but she does not know of a pathway around requiring that CHIRP release form. Since the first box of section B of form 52308 states "Medical provider is not to enter individual's data into registry," I believe that should apply to the school nurse. The medical provider facility (in this case) would be the school itself. Does anyone know of a separate form that is specifically directed to the school to exclude them from entering the child's data into CHIRP?
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Hoosiers for Medical Liberty
5/17/2023 10:04:21 am
HI Angela,
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AuthorAshley Grogg RN-MSN sharing insights, tips, and updates on Medical Liberty throughout the Hoosier state. Archives
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