Kempthorne called for establishing the voluntary statewide registry in his first State of the State address. Partnering with Kempthorne in his immunization effort are the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the state's health districts. According to statewide research, low immunization rates in Idaho are caused by a general lack of awareness about the importance of immunizations, and the lack of a strong reminder system, which makes it hard for parents and providers to know a child's immunization status and monitor their vaccination schedule. The system will assist parents and providers in tracking a child's immunizations. It will allow parents and providers to know when and which immunizations were given and to make sure that a child receives the necessary immunizations at each doctor's visit.
Vaccines are one of the greatest achievements in the history of preventive medicine.
However, for immunizations to reach their full potential, parents must be better prepared to make sure their children are immunized. Health care providers must do the same by recognizing the latest immunization developments and reminding parents to immunize their children. IRIS and the educational campaign will help them in their efforts. Part of the educational campaign will include reminding health care providers who care for adolescents of the immunization recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The campaign also includes public service announcements, parent and provider brochures, posters, an educational video for parents and a resource tool kit for providers.