Republicans disagree over implications of Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act

Last week, 80 out of 215 Republicans in the U.S. House joined Democrats to pass H.R. 550, the Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act, in a 294-130 vote.

Four Republican co-sponsored the bill, including Reps. Larry Bucshon, James Baird, David McKinley and Brian Fitzpatrick.

According to the House Clerk’s summary of the bill, the legislation directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take actions to improve data sharing and other aspects of immunization information systems. These are confidential, population-based databases that maintain a record of vaccine administrations. It would also require HHS to develop a strategy to help improve systems supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and to designate data and technology standards for use in these systems, along with awarding grants to state health departments and other state and local agencies to improve their systems.

Democratic Rep. Ann Kuster, the bill’s main sponsor, said in a statement that the system would be used to “remind patients when they are due for a recommended vaccine” and identify areas with low vaccination rates to “ensure equitable distribution of vaccines.” 

Critics, however, have blasted the bill as a tool to enforce “Orwellian rules.”

Republican Rep. Mary Miller told Breitbart that the legislation would enable the federal government to “track” unvaccinated Americans who “will be targeted and forced to comply with Biden’s crazy ‘global vaccination’ vision.”

“These systems are designed to allow for the sharing of crucial information and maintenance of records,” Miller said. “Do we really trust the government to protect our medical records?”

“The bill’s author even bragged in her press release that these systems will help the government remind patients when they are due for a recommended vaccine and identify areas with low vaccination rates to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines," Miller added. "This was clearly a legislative tool to enforce vaccine mandates and force their Orwellian rules onto those who do not comply.”

Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds also voiced concerns over the bill and its cost to American taxpayers.

“This legislation would unnecessarily appropriate millions of taxpayer funds intended to expand bureaucracy in Washington,” he said. “A database solely created to record and collect confidential vaccination information of Americans explicitly encroaches upon individuals’ fundamental right to medical privacy.”

But Republicans who voted in favor of the bill have come out in defense of the legislation, arguing that there has been a great deal of “misinformation” surrounding the vote.

Speaking exclusively with ADN America, Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar said, “I voted for the bill because it allocates money to modernize an already existing database. That money will prevent hackers or the Federal Government from the confidential medical records of Americans.”  

“This immunization bill does not create a new database that shows who is vaccinated and who isn’t – you can get vaccinated or not, that’s your problem. But the government has no right to interfere with your medical life. You can’t believe everything that you read on the internet – there’s a lot of fake news,” she added.

Similarly, Michigan Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga issued a press release stating, “The Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act, HR 550, is in no way, shape, or form related to a federal vaccine database or vaccine passport. In fact, the data contained in these state-run systems has had all personally identifiable information removed from it.”

“I have consistently opposed federal vaccine mandates and vaccine passports. In fact, I am an original cosponsor of H.J. Res 65, which would overturn OSHA’s vaccine mandate. I have also help lead efforts to overturn the CMS vaccine mandate as well as support legislation blocking mandates for federal employees and contractors,” he added.

Texas Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw also took to Twitter to dispel the alleged “fake news,” posting a video which explained his position.  

“Unfortunately, many Republicans you trust are lying to you. They want you to believe they stood strong against a new vaccine database,” Crenshaw tweeted. “But they’re lying. There’s no new database. We just made current databases secure against federal gov’t tracking.”

Unfortunately, many Republicans you trust are lying to you. They want you to believe they stood strong against a “new vaccine database.” But they’re lying. There’s no new database. We just made current databases secure against federal gov’t tracking.

Here’s the truth. THREAD pic.twitter.com/Ujnwjucq2E

— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) December 6, 2021

The Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act passed in the House on Nov. 30, 2021 and will now move to the Senate for further consideration.