Issue: Parents Right to Say No to Vaccines

Date: Feb 6, 2015

CALIFORNIA MAKING IT HARDER-Two California lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday morning that would eliminate parents' ability to opt out of school-mandated vaccines because of personal beliefs. 

The bill from state Sens. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a pediatrician, and Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), an educator, comes amid the worst measles outbreak in 20 years
with more than 100 cases recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The flare-up is anchored in California, where many affluent communities have dangerously low vaccination rates and around 13,000 current kindergarten students are not vaccinated, according to an analysis by the San Jose Mercury News. 

“As a pediatrician, I’ve been worried about the anti-vaccination trend for a long time. I’ve personally witnessed the suffering caused by these preventable diseases and I am very grateful to the many parents that are now speaking up and letting us know that our current laws don’t protect their kids," Pan said in a statement. 

If the bill is passed as filed, parents may only skip having their children vaccinated in cases where it is prevented by physical or medical conditions.  (Read the rest here.)   

-cw 

CityWatch

Vol 13 Issue 11

Pub: Feb 6, 2015