Two local lawmakers are not happy with California’s new mandatory vaccination policy which was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday.
Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, and Sen. Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, did not vote in favor of the bill when it passed in a 24 to 14 vote in the state senate on Monday.
“Right now vaccinations are at an all time high, so this bill is not really about vaccination rates,” said Wilk. “It’s about government dictating health care to parents.”
Senate Bill 277 waives California’s personal belief and religious exemptions from immunizations and makes vaccinating a requirement for parents who want to send their children to public schools.
“It didn’t have enough ability for parents to not have vaccinations for their children for various reasons,” said Runner. “It took away rights, to me, for parents. I think it was a reaction because of Disneyland and I think most responsible parents are going to have vaccinations.”
Under the new law, school age children who plan to go to public schools would need all 10 vaccinations which range from Hepatitis to Diphtheria, according to the CDC website.
Children would only be allowed to bypass vaccination if they have serious medical problems or a family member had a serious reaction to a vaccine.
Gov. Brown stated that “The science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious and dangerous diseases. While it’s true that no medical intervention is without risk, the evidence shows that immunization powerfully benefits and protects the community,” in his signing message.
The bill was met with opposition from nearly 61,000 signatures on a petition to stop SB 277 before this weeks decision.
“I’m really disappointed,” said Runner. “I think a lot of parents will choose to homeschool now and the state will lose money.”
The law is not scheduled to take effect until July 1, 2016 and children will be required to show proof of immunizations before starting day care and public school.
“It’s going to get litigated and it’s going to tie up the courts and attorney general’s office for a policy that doesn’t do anything to improve public health,” Wilk said.
It is also still possible for a referendum to be put on the November 2016 ballot to oppose the legislature. Opponents to the bill have 90 days from Tuesday to collect 365,880 valid signatures.
California is only one of three states that has implemented such strict laws regarding immunizations.
Mississippi and West Virginia were previously the only two states which does not permit exemptions from vaccinations, according to the CDC website.
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24 Comments
Soooo…..if more kids are going to be homeschooled…..would that mean overcrowding on schools would decrease?
Yes. But it will also mean less funding for said schools. I know here is Castaic the low enrollment rates are literally killing their funding. It would cripple them. Not good. Not good at all.
I”m also thinking of L.A.U.S.D as well, where overcrowding is a huge problem. Perhaps, they’ll ship kids over there to here?
I saw a parent comment that in some areas – homeschool co-ops are huge. This I guess also impacts them since its around other kids and would have to require them to all be vaxed too
It really will negatively effect a lot of education. It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out.
Parents can put their children in a cardboard box in the woods for an education – as long as they vaccinate. Be smart.
Homeschooling here we come!
Nikie DesRoches
PURE DISGUST!
So dumb.
If you really think about it logically, it’s not going to accomplish much aside from causing more families to home school. Unvaccinated kids will still be in your local boys and girls clubs, grocery stores, restaurants, public parks, public pools, day camps, amusement parks, etc. The last outbreak began at Disneyland and I don’t think they’re going to start demanding vaccination records anytime soon.
I could see that, but majority of students go to public school, and that’s a good place to start. So I believe it will make a dent because those are large bodies of people.
I’m curious though if the lawmakers’ children are vaccinated?
I’m sure they are, as are mine but I still think personal exemptions and especially religious exemptions should remain intact.
Where do I sign up…? What can I do ? How can I be of assistance ? You cannot take away parents rights…without assuming financial responsibility for worst case scenarios…I’ve seen children greiviosly damaged by vaccinations…they will require a lifetime of care…if the state forces vacs…it should also pony up for the irreversible harm as well as separate schools for the unvaccinated…
Omg do they still think cigarettes are good for you? Dumbasses
Have you ever gotten sick with what the vaccines have prevented? No? Then stop.
My opinion is everyone should be vaccinated sorry for the confusion Annalisa Grace
Have you ever had a vaccine injured child or a child that died from their reaction. I have a vaccine injured child and a dear friend lost her child at 7 months. Even when you tell the doctor that your child had a reaction they just say it is a coincidence. Really a fever of up to 106 each time they get that shot is a coincidence not to mention the rash or the inflamed injection sight ??? If they do have a reaction they still have the right to tell you its just a coincidence. My children have most of their vaccines but a few of the reactions were awful so we decided against those ones for my other children. We were told each time the reactions weren’t from the shots. As if our observations weren’t enough we had to prove it. How are you supposed to do that?? Now their is a bill that says I should be forced to choose between school or possible damage from a shot for my other children. I should never have to feel that I need to put my kids in harms way for the sake of anyone else. My first priority is to MY children. In my opinion anyone who would put people like me and my friend in this position are very cruel. You have never walked in my shoes you have no idea!!
Why? I’m sorry but religion aside, I am not going to send my child to school and then some kid gives them something! Vaccinations need to happen. What the hell is happening to America.
Lets think about the numbers people. Its not about a shot, its about the involvement of the State Government and their financial gain off this. This falls under “medication” and “Pharmaceuticals” and they the Government will benefit from this big time. How many of us went to school in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s? I do not recall ever having to get vaccinated and I think all of us parents are still doing just fine. I’m pretty sure our wonderful Governor Brown will rush his grandchildren straight down to the clinic on July 01, 2016 and make sure they get their shots. This is bogus and no body should be required to do this. It should be a choice.
I agree completely with annalisa. This dumbing down of America is destroying our country. All of you who don’t believe in medical science and the experts who lead it are damaging all the rest of us. Vaccinations are necessary and a great blessing to us. I am thankful that the state government listens to scientists and not actors when making life and death public health decisions.
If any of you want to home school your kids, go for it and leave logic and reason to the rest of us.
Thank you.
Vaccinations …. That’s the least of our worries … This is just the beginning…
Hey Scott and Sharon – I’m gonna tell Big Pharma you aren’t cooperating…