With measles breaking out in California, two state senators introduced legislation Wednesday that would eliminate the ability for parents of school children to opt out of vaccinating their kids based on a personal belief.
The bill by Democratic Sens. Richard Pan of Sacramento and Ben Allen of Santa Monica is likely to spark intense debate in the state Legislature. Across the state, parents in wealthy communities – both liberal and conservative – have chosen not to vaccinate their children and been able to enroll them in school by filing a so-called “personal belief” exemption.
Pan, a pediatrician, said he has seen children suffer from illnesses that could have been prevented by vaccines.
“This does to have to happen,” Pan said during a press conference where several mothers held babies in their arms.
