"H.R. 550 is focused on state-level databases called Immunization Information Systems -- these state level systems contain no personal information about anyone's vaccine status, rather, the data can be aggregated and used to help predict and prepare for disease outbreaks or identify where the…
"H.R. 550 is focused on state-level databases called Immunization Information Systems -- these state level systems contain no personal information about anyone's vaccine status, rather, the data can be aggregated and used to help predict and prepare for disease outbreaks or identify where there may be a vaccine supply shortage during a pandemic. The bill puts guardrails on how the Biden Administration can use existing funding to improve IISs. Beefing up the security of these systems, so bad actors can't access the data, would be one purpose of the bill.
Some answers to specific questions that might be helpful:
Q: Will this bill create a federal database of vaccines for the federal government to track me?
A: No, this bill will not create a federal database. IISs already exist in the states, and the information in them is de-identified. Your personal information is not in these systems.
Q: Will this bill make it easier for the government to track me?
A: No. This system does not contain any of your personal information, so therefore no one can track you through it.
Q: Will the Biden Administration use the IISs to track who has been vaccinated and who hasn't?
A: No. These systems include de-identified vaccine data. It is not possible for anyone to look up your vaccine status in these systems."
-But, I'll leave it up to you to read the fine print because we all know where this leads.
The most benign interpretation of this law is:
"H.R. 550 is focused on state-level databases called Immunization Information Systems -- these state level systems contain no personal information about anyone's vaccine status, rather, the data can be aggregated and used to help predict and prepare for disease outbreaks or identify where there may be a vaccine supply shortage during a pandemic. The bill puts guardrails on how the Biden Administration can use existing funding to improve IISs. Beefing up the security of these systems, so bad actors can't access the data, would be one purpose of the bill.
Some answers to specific questions that might be helpful:
Q: Will this bill create a federal database of vaccines for the federal government to track me?
A: No, this bill will not create a federal database. IISs already exist in the states, and the information in them is de-identified. Your personal information is not in these systems.
Q: Will this bill make it easier for the government to track me?
A: No. This system does not contain any of your personal information, so therefore no one can track you through it.
Q: Will the Biden Administration use the IISs to track who has been vaccinated and who hasn't?
A: No. These systems include de-identified vaccine data. It is not possible for anyone to look up your vaccine status in these systems."
-But, I'll leave it up to you to read the fine print because we all know where this leads.