NEW JERSEY: The NJ Dept of Health proposed revisions go too far

Use your voice and oppose these "proposed updates." Educate NJ legislators & fellow NJ residents!

Our Stand: At-A-Glance

  • The New Jersey Department of Health emailed a memo that targeted “NJ stakeholders,” on Monday, May 8, 2023 asking for their review of a powerpoint presentation and feedback (by May 31, 2023) on proposed revisions and additions to the New Jersey Administrative Code Title 8 Chapter 57 which covers Communicable Diseases and related topics. The current rule is set to expire on February 8, 2024.
  • The NJDOH is proposing the following revisions/additions:
    • “Align immunization requirements specified in this subchapter with the current ACIP recommendations.” NJDOH is proposing to add/mandate COVID-19, FLU & HPV vaccines for ALL NJ Students K-12 to attend school.
    • “Not limit a private entity’s ability to add additional vaccination requirements that are recommended by the ACIP but not required by NJDOH.” NJDOH proposes to allow ALL private schools (preschools, daycares, elementary, secondary & colleges) to REQUIRE ANY vaccinations they choose going forward.
    • “Add the new meningococcal vaccine requirement in accordance with the ACIP recommendations as a condition of attendance to comply with (C.18A:62-15.1).”
    • “Expansion of Reporting Requirements: Increases the upper age limit of who is required to be reported into NJIIS.” NJDOH is proposing to expand the requirement to all practitioners who administer vaccines to children under 18 (currently it is 7 and under) to report, without parental consent, all vaccines administered to the NJ vaccine registry (NJ Immunization Information System) for tracking. NJIIS is an opt-out only vaccine statewide registry.
    • “Access to public or private place and records/things at these premises to enforce, administer or confirm compliance with health laws.” Increase the NJDOH “scope & authority” to access public or private (homes/businesses) and things to enforce health laws (slippery slope).
    • To allow hospitals to grant the NJDOH and local health department access to their electronic health records “needed for public health investigations.”
    • “SURVEILLANCE (N.J.A.C. 8:57 NEW SECTION): A new section requiring establishment and maintenance of a surveillance system to detect and investigate health threats (now voluntary). A charge of this additional section would be to require NJ schools to report absenteeism cases to the State for surveillance and tracking.
    • ZOONOTIC DISEASE REPORTING “would require laboratory reporting & authorization for isolating/quarantining domestic pets.”
  • Please note that these are proposed changes and additions, and it is crucial to participate in the feedback process to make your voice heard.
  • 2023 is an election year in New Jersey, it is a time where legislators must earn and re-earn the votes of their constituents by speaking up on these very important issues!
  • We also encourage you to alert your legislators through our digital advocacy to these proposed revisions, express your concern and insist they contact the NJDOH on behalf of you, their constituent, regarding this matter.
  • For more information on the proposal, please scroll down.

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  • The NJDOH is proposing the following revisions/additions:
    • “Align immunization requirements specified in this subchapter with the current ACIP recommendations.” NJDOH is proposing to add/mandate COVID-19, FLU & HPV vaccines for ALL NJ Students K-12 to attend school.
    • “Not limit a private entity’s ability to add additional vaccination requirements that are recommended by the ACIP but not required by NJDOH.” NJDOH proposes to allow ALL private schools (preschools, daycares, elementary, secondary & colleges) to REQUIRE ANY vaccinations they choose going forward.
    • “Add the new meningococcal vaccine requirement in accordance with the ACIP recommendations as a condition of attendance to comply with (C.18A:62-15.1).”
    • “Expansion of Reporting Requirements: Increases the upper age limit of who is required to be reported into NJIIS.” NJDOH is proposing to expand the requirement to all practitioners who administer vaccines to children under 18 (currently it is 7 and under) to report, without parental consent, all vaccines administered to the NJ vaccine registry (NJ Immunization Information System) for tracking. NJIIS is an opt-out only vaccine statewide registry.
    • “Access to public or private place and records/things at these premises to enforce, administer or confirm compliance with health laws.” Increase the NJDOH “scope & authority” to access public or private (homes/businesses) and things to enforce health laws (slippery slope).
    • To allow hospitals to grant the NJDOH and local health department access to their electronic health records “needed for public health investigations.”
    • “SURVEILLANCE (N.J.A.C. 8:57 NEW SECTION): A new section requiring establishment and maintenance of a surveillance system to detect and investigate health threats (now voluntary). A charge of this additional section would be to require NJ schools to report absenteeism cases to the State for surveillance and tracking.
    • ZOONOTIC DISEASE REPORTING “would require laboratory reporting & authorization for isolating/quarantining domestic pets.”
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