Bill to Eliminate Vaccine Exemptions Moves Forward Despite Local Objections

By BEA KARNES (Patch Staff)

A vaccine bill that would end the “personal belief exemption” passed an Assembly committee today despite objections from Orange County residents who rallied against the bill.

Senate Bill 277 has already cleared the Senate. Today’s 12-6 vote sends it to the Assembly floor.

Before the vote, the bill was amended to allow doctors to consider family history when issuing medical exemptions, which would still be allowed.

Related:

• Measles Outbreak Linked to Disneyland
• Infants Quarantined Because of Measles Outbreak at Santa Monica High Daycare
• Vaccine Bill Passes California Senate

The bill was authored by Democratic Sens. Richard Pan of Sacramento and Ben Allen of Santa Monica following the measles outbreak that began at Disneyland and spread amongst unvaccinated children. According to The Orange County Register, Capistrano Beach’s Dr. Bob Sears spoke at the rally, warning that the bill would force many parents to whom school children who have been selectively vaccinated.

“You can be 100 percent for vaccines in every way and still see this bill as a bad idea,” Sears told the Register.

The measles outbreak began in December and sickened 136 Californians before the state declared the outbreak over.

Gov. Jerry Brown has not spoken publicly about the bill, but analysts expect him to sign it.

--Image of California Capitol via State of California