Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
VIEWPOINT
Corresponding
Author: Y. Tony Yang,
ScD, LLM, MPH,
Department of Health
Administration and
Policy, George Mason
University, Mail Stop
1J3, 4400 University
Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030
(ytyang@gmu.edu).
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1229
Opinion Viewpoint
Table. Proposed State Legislation Related to Childhood Vaccine Exemptions From January 1 to July 15, 2015
States (Bill No.)
Passed
Failed to Pass
Under Consideration
Vermont (H 98)
Philosophical
Religious
Require/expand vaccine
tracking/data sharing
Philosophical
Massachusetts (S 317)
Religious
Bill passed the state legislature but was not yet signed by the governor as of July 15, 2015.
Montana HB 158 was originally introduced to establish a philosophical exemption, which was later stricken, and the bill passed adding varicella to the
vaccine requirements.
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Conclusions
Regardless of the intense lobbying by each side, the science supporting vaccines is settled, and opponents remain a small, vocal minority, with only 9% of Californians indicating that they believe vaccines are unsafe. 10 Physicians overwhelmingly recommend
childhood vaccines, which are credited with the elimination or near
elimination of diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella. Other states
should follow Californias common sense decision to protect the publics health, understanding that the states interest in protecting children is a higher priority than the freedom of some.
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