Associated Press - July 17, 2009 12:34 PM ET

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - A joint legislative task force has voted unanimously to ask Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter to shift money at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to help pay for child immunizations in the state.

The lawmakers on Thursday voted to call for reversing budget cuts of $2.1 million to restore the state's child immunization program at least through the rest of this year.

Idaho had covered the costs of vaccinations for every child but that program ended amid statewide budget cuts on July 1.

Now, only kids who are uninsured, underinsured or who qualify for Medicaid are eligible for the free vaccines.

The National Immunization Survey in 2007-2008 found Idaho's overall child immunization rate was 57.6%, well below the national average of 77.2%.

Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com

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