California Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Require More Kids To Get Vaccines

Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, center, accompanied by concerned mothers and their children, answers a question about his proposed legislation that would require parents to vaccinate all school children during a news... Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, center, accompanied by concerned mothers and their children, answers a question about his proposed legislation that would require parents to vaccinate all school children during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday Feb. 4, 2015. If approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor, the bill, co-authored by Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, third from right, would make California one of only three states requiring such restrictions. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) MORE LESS
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California lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a bill that would keep parents from sending their children to school without certain vaccinations due to personal beliefs, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“There are not enough people being vaccinated to contain these dangerous diseases,” said Democratic Sen. Richard Pan (pictured above) said while introducing the bill at a press conference. “We should not wait for more children to sicken and die before we act.”

The bill would still allow parents to seek a exemptions for religious beliefs and medical reasons, such as allergies. And it does not apply to children who are home-schooled.

Evan Westrup, a spokesman for Gov. Jerry Brown (D), told the LA Times that the governor was open to the bill.

“The governor believes that vaccinations are profoundly important and a major public health benefit and any bill that reaches his desk will be closely considered,” Westrup said.

The legislation comes after a measles outbreak at Disneyland in California prompted a national debate about vaccinations. Many lawmakers urged parents to vaccinate their children, but some politicians stated that parents should be able to decide whether to immunize their kids.

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