Jun 10, 2025
New Jersey lawmakers are advancing a controversial bill that would automatically enroll anyone receiving a vaccine into a statewide digital database—removing the current requirement for consent and sparking fresh debate over privacy and government overreach. Known as S1956, the bill recently passed the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee in a 5-3 party-line vote, with Democrats in support and Republicans opposed. If signed into law, it would significantly expand the New Jersey Immunization Information System by shifting from a partly voluntary program to one of automatic inclusion for all vaccine recipients, regardless of age or prior consent.
Originally tied to a temporary executive order issued by Governor Phil Murphy during the COVID-19 pandemic, the measure now appears poised to become permanent legislation as Murphy nears the end of his final term. Though the bill does not mandate vaccines or eliminate exemption rights, it contains a highly controversial clause: during a declared public health emergency or outbreak, the state health commissioner could deny opt-out requests. Critics argue this opens the door to sweeping surveillance and the erosion of personal autonomy, especially since the opt-out process could be suspended entirely. Supporters claim it will help improve public health responses, but opponents warn it signals an unsettling shift toward centralized control of private medical data.
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SOURCE: Reclaim the Net