Existing law establishes the California Immunization Registry (CAIR), which is operated by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Current law generally authorizes health care providers, schools, and childcare facilities to disclose specified immunization information with local health departments and the CDPH, and authorizes local health departments and the CDPH to disclose that same information to each other and to health care providers, schools, and childcare facilities. Current law sets forth the immunization, patient, or client information that may be disclosed, such as patient or client demographic information, immunization data, adverse reactions to the immunization, or other information needed to identify the patient or client or to comply with other laws.
Assembly Bill 1797 (AB 1797) revises the current law to instead require health care providers, schools, and childcare facilities to disclose the specified immunization information and would add the patient’s or client’s race and ethnicity to the list of information that shall or may be disclosed.
Current law further requires schools and childcare facilities to maintain the confidentiality of the specified immunization information and to only use the information for specified purposes, including to carry out their responsibilities regarding required immunization for attendance or participation benefits, or both. AB 1797 additionally authorizes, until January 1, 2026, schools and childcare facilities to use the specified immunization information for the COVID-19 public health emergency to perform immunization status assessments of pupils to ensure health and safety.
(AB 1797 amends, repeals, and adds Section 120440 of the Health and Safety Code.)