AP<\/p>\n
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Opponents of a proposal that would require California schoolchildren to be vaccinated vowed to continue their fight after a Senate committee overwhelmingly approved the bill Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Senate Education Committee voted 7-2 on the bill by Sen. Richard Pan, a Democratic pediatrician from Sacramento, with votes from both Democrats and Republicans.<\/p>\n
The bill now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee for a hearing next week as part of a long legislative process.<\/p>\n
“We will continue to show our strength, and we will continue to educate lawmakers and the public about why this is a bad bill,” said Jean Keese, a spokeswoman for the California Coalition for Health Choice.<\/p>\n
The proposal was among several drafted across the nation in the wake of a measles outbreak that started at Disneyland and sickened more than 100 people in the U.S. and Mexico.<\/p>\n
It would eliminate California’s personal-belief and religious exemptions so unvaccinated children would not be able to attend public or private schools. Medical waivers would only be available for children who have health problems.<\/p>\n
Lawmakers had delayed a vote on the bill last week after some on the Education Committee worried it would deprive unvaccinated children of an adequate education.<\/p>\n
Pan made changes that let families that opt out of vaccines to homeschool their children together and allowing students to seek independent study.<\/p>\n
“It’s a strong sign that people want to be sure that we protect our kids, protect our schools and protect our communities from these preventable diseases,” Pan said of Wednesday’s vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BILL APPROVED TO REQUIRE CALIFORNIA SCHOOLCHILDREN TO BE VACCINATED AP SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Opponents of a proposal that would require California schoolchildren to be vaccinated vowed to continue their fight after a Senate committee overwhelmingly approved the bill Wednesday. The … Continue reading