NJ Ready To Pass Bill Removing Religious Vaccine Exemptions

NEW JERSEY – Lawmakers are ready to pass a bill that could have an impact on millions of lives: Removing the religious exemptions on vaccinations.

The Senate passed amendments by a 17-15 vote on Thursday that places the bill on track toward approval, and sources told Patch that the new legislation will allow non-vaccinated children to go to daycare centers or attend private school. The Senate may vote during its Monday session at 12 noon.

The Assembly passed the bill last month that would eliminate the exemptions without the amendments, but the legislation stalled in the Senate. Gov. Phil Murphy has been supportive of the legislative efforts, saying the state will pass laws based on "science and facts."

One of the deciding votes was Republican Sen. Declan O'Scanlon of Monmouth County, who said the amendments aren't a perfect solution "but it's a balance that I think is fair."

The bill would eliminate religious or "personal beliefs" as a valid exemption to vaccination — a proposal that drew large protests in Trenton in recent months.

The bill passed the Assembly by a 45-25-6 vote but the legislation stalled in the Senate after lawmakers were subjected to shouts by opponents of the bill. Read more: NJ Parents Make Final Push To Save Religious Vaccine Exemptions

The bill stalled as two others succeeded on Dec. 16. Lawmakers passed legislation setting up a November referendum on marijuana legalization, as well as a bill expanding access to undocumented immigrants. Murphy signed the latter into law. Read more: NJ Lawmakers Pass Big Marijuana, Vaccine, Driver's License Bills

After measles outbreaks in Rockland County and Brooklyn, New York state removed the religious exemptions to vaccination last year. New Jersey was quick to follow in New York's footsteps, when Senator Joe Vitale, a Democrat from Middlesex County, and Sen. Loretta Weinberg, a Democrat from Bergen County, introduced the bill to void religious exemptions last year.

If the bill passes, parents can still choose to not vaccinate their children, but the kids will not be allowed to attend New Jersey public schools. Currently, parents can claim a religious or personal exemption to having their child vaccinated, and the child can still attend public school.

Hundreds of parents in New Jersey have been protesting what they say is an invasion of their civil rights and liberties.

Jennifer Cerezo, 35, who lives in Bergenfield, is one of the parents who is fighting the bill. While Cerezo said she could not be at the Statehouse last month to protest, she said went to the Statehouse when Vitale's bill was first introduced, and has since been calling her local assemblyman and other elected officials to tell them she is against it.

"Whether you are pro-vax or anti-vax, the decision to vaccinate your child or not is your choice," she told Patch on Thursday. "This is taking away my Constitutional rights as an American, my right to follow my religion and do what I think is best for my child. Don't take away my rights as a parent."

Vitale and Weinberg, meanwhile, issued the following joint statement after their decision to hold the bill at the December Senate session:

“This bill is vital for the health and safety of the residents of New Jersey, especially our children and we look forward to bringing the bill up for a vote in the near future.

“This legislation is nothing less than an important public safety measure and nothing more than a reasonable and effective way to protect against the spread of infectious diseases. These are vaccines that have been proven to be safe for the children who receive them and effective in protecting the health of others.

“We understand the passion and concern people have around this legislation, and we do not take our advocacy for it lightly. But we shouldn’t let emotion overcome responsible actions we can and should take to protect against infectious and possibly deadly diseases.

The lawmakers say they have a responsibility "to protect the public’s health, especially children who could be exposed to infections. This is about keeping our future generations safe and healthy. Our personal health choices are not made in a vacuum. The decision to refuse vaccinations can have a real and immediate impact on the safety of others."