Calls For Vaccine Exemption Changes

Sacramento, CA — Several state and federal lawmakers are taking on the vaccine debate admits new reports that the number of Californians infected with measles originating at Disneyland has reaching 99.

Democratic State Senators Richard Pan and Ben Allen want to strengthen California’s vaccine laws by dropping the personal beliefs exemption and only allowing for exemptions based on medical reasons. “The high number of unvaccinated students is jeopardizing public health not only in schools but in the broader community.  We need to take steps to keep our schools safe and our students healthy,” said State Senator Allen.

Additionally, California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have called for the state’s policy on vaccine exemptions to be reconsidered by state health officials.  In a joint letter, the two Democrats say there should be no such thing as a philosophical or personal belief exemption to being vaccinated since everyone uses public spaces.  However, underlying medical conditions would still warrant non-vaccination, according to the senators, who stress that the vaccines are effective and necessary.

California is one of 20 states that have personal belief exemptions and 48 that allow for religious exemptions.  If the proposed legislation passes, California will join 32 other states that do not allow parents to opt out of vaccination because of personal belief exemptions.

As previously reported, Tuolumne County Public Health Department officials had feared the first possible case of measles in the county, but luckily, the test came back negative.