A recent determination by the Florida Department of Health regarding patient non-participation (“opt-out”) in Florida SHOTS indicates that it may be necessary to delete the patients records of those opted-out from the immunization registry. Be aware that immunization records for some of your patients who opted-out may no longer be available to you through Florida SHOTS. However, immunization information in your electronic medical record will not be affected.
We are attempting to contact adult patients and parents of children and adolescent patients who may have elected to opt-out of Florida SHOTS, to give them the opportunity to rescind that election and participate fully in Florida SHOTS. Please encourage any patients or parents of your patients who may be affected by this recent development to respond to our mailing as quickly as possible, and to elect to keep their immunizations on file with the Department of Health and in Florida SHOTS.
After 3/1/19, a search for a patient with an opt-out status will result in the following message:
“This patient has requested non-participation in Florida SHOTS; no immunization information is available on this individual.”
For those opted-out:
- After 3/1/19, no provider - including the patient’s Current Immunization Provider - will have access to any pre-existing vaccination information in the Florida SHOTS registry. All immunizations, exemptions, contraindications, etc., will be removed and entering a new record for that patient will not be possible.
For patients choosing to opt back into Florida SHOTS:
- If opting-in is done before the date of record removal, there is a Department of Health form they may complete and provide to the Florida SHOTS help desk. Any prior record of vaccines, previously allowed entry into the registry, will be accessible.
- If they choose to opt-in after the date of record removal, they may do so; however, a new record must then be created, requiring the provider to have physical proof of all immunizations before they are added.
Should the patient choose to remain opted-out, it is recommended they maintain physical documented proof of immunizations. After 3/1/2019, opted-out patients may be asked to show proof of immunizations by physicians, schools, daycare centers, etc., and Florida SHOTS will no longer provide this information.
We ask that, should you become aware of any patients currently “opted-out” from Florida SHOTS, you please ensure they are aware of this policy and exactly what it entails.