After delay, lawmakers advance California vaccine bill

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 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.

 

The bill now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee for a hearing next week as part of a long legislative process.

 

“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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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