Measles outbreak: California legislation proposed to repeal 'opt out' provision of vaccination law

[Newsjock]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

Two state senators announced Wednesday that they will introduce legislation to repeal the controversial "personal belief exemption" that allows California parents to opt out of vaccinating their children against preventable diseases.

The legislation will also require schools to notify parents of school immunization rates.

"We shouldn't wait for more children to sicken or die before we act," pediatrician and Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, said at a Wednesday morning press conference. "Parents are letting us know our current laws are insufficient to protect their kids."

Sen. Ben Allen, D-Redondo Beach, a co-sponsor of the legislation, said: "The high number of unvaccinated students is jeopardizing public health."

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_27458564/legislation-introduced-repeal-opt-out-provision-vaccination-law

[Sherman A1]

1. A good idea, but

the whole "horse and barn door" thing comes to mind.

[LifeLoveLib]

2. I don't know...

...what horse and barn is, but I think vaccinations should be mandatory.

We can't have unvaccinated people in this day and age.

[murielm99]

3. Closing the barn door after

the horse has escaped.

[ripcord]

7. It won' t help now

It this law would keep this particular stupidity from happening again.

[Hekate]

21. Actually it will help now. Immediately. nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

23. Closing the barn door after

a very few horses escaped, of very many.

Making the vaccine mandatory will help to bring the disease under control. It was done before, it can be done again. If it's "kept" mandatory.

I'd hope the polio vaccine is also mandatory. That's a particularly nasty disease.

[Control-Z]

5. A few may have gotten out

but any child who isn't currently vaccinated would then have to get the vax. They would no longer be able to wonder around their schools posing a possible danger to other students.

[SunSeeker]

11. Exactly right.

In the words of the Rude Pundit: Vaccinate your fucking kids!

Better late than never.

[yellowcanine]

18. Well there are still plenty of horses in the barn so close the door already.

Send medical teams into the schools and get the kids vaccinated. Parents who refuse to allow it for other than a medical reason have to pull their kids from the school.

[onecaliberal]

4. This is how it should be with the exception

Of medical fragility.

[Geronimoe]

6. Difficult to follow the logic

If a parent has gotten their child vaccinated, why are they still afraid of their child getting sick?

Also if safety is so well established why do the pharmaceuticals have the Government give them immunity for liability if harm is done?

[LisaL]

8. I will make it easy for you.

The child can be vaccinated at 1 year old. Up until then they can be infected. Some children can not be vaccinated at all due to medical reasons.
They have to count on high vaccination rates in older children to be safe.

[Marrah_G]

9. Because in a pecentage of people they cannot take the vaccine or it doesnt work in them

This is why it's so important for as many as possible to to be vaccinated.

[murielm99]

13. Right.

Some people don't develop immunity, even if they have been vaccinated. Medical professionals may know more than I do about why immunity does not "take" in a minority of the population.

[Hekate]

22. It was a well-known feature for a minority of those getting the smallpox vax. My brother...

My brother's smallpox vaccination didn't "take" on the first try (that is, he didn't get the desired inflamed scabby pustule that scarred over when it healed) and he had to get a do-over. At least with those you could see the results right on the skin.

I don't know how you check with other vaccines, but it was just assumed we needed boosters for tetanus and the rest. Shots were not assumed to confer lifetime immunity, and the mortality rate was horrendous if you caught the disease. People used to know this.

In any case, those already vaccinated with MMR and the rest would do well to check into a booster schedule with their doctors.

[murielm99]

24. There is a blood test that can show the immunity

levels for these illnesses. I had the test before I had children, when I was in my thirties. I don't know what my immunity looks like now.

[Journeyman]

12. Adding to LisaL's comment. . .

I understand that, for some people, even though they are vaccinated the vaccine may not work as effectively for them as it does for others. They would remain at risk of contracting the disease, despite their receiving a vaccine.

Also, for those who are much older (middle aged or so), the vaccine they received as a child may lose its effectiveness (hence the need for booster shots, which not everyone knows or decides they need). A largely vaccinated population would protect these people as well.

I'm no expert on these matters, so you'll need to do your own investigation. I'm satisfied with the present course proposed in the legislature, though I'm uncertain how this will be implemented.

As for your question about liability immunity, I have my thoughts, but hope others may give you a more comprehensive answer.

[HuckleB]

16. The unvaccinated are a danger to everyone. This explains why.

http://shotofprevention.com/2011/04/12/why-worry-about-the-unvaccinated/

[SunSeeker]

10. Good. Can't happen soon enough! nt

[bluestateguy]

14. That will help

But wealthier parents in places like Marin County, which has high rates of "personal belief" opt-outs, will just put their children into private schools.

[Arugula Latte]

15. That will be "interesting" ... entire schools full of unvaxxed kids.

A lot of anti-vaxxers currently "coast" on other kids' immunity. Let's see how they like their precious snowflakes surrounded by 100 percent petri dish kids.

[HuckleB]

17. That's going to be a bigger battle now, too.

The majority of those folks are still pro-vaccine, and, with what's happening, they may not be happy with schools that don't enforce vaccination rules themselves.

[LeftyMom]

19. The requirements are the same at private and home schools in CA.

[Hekate]

20. Good. I hope mine will be a co-sponsor soon. nt