Sacramento, California – A long debatable bill that will make the vaccination of Californian school children compulsory is all set to face a critical vote on Wednesday. The Bill is being tabled again after few amendments and a delay of one week. The bill opposes religious exemptions for vaccinating schoolchildren, which has been a matter of heavy debate among the lawmakers.
Sen. Richard Pan, Sacramento’s Democratic pediatrician, has proposed this bill. The bill is being scheduled by the Senate Education Committee and proposes to eliminate Californians personal beliefs including religious exemptions. According to this bill, avoiding vaccination will lead to the elimination of the child from public or private school. The medical waiver is proposed for only those students having serious health issues.
Parents now Cannot Opt Out of Vaccination
The lawmakers have been avoiding the vote on the bill, as they are worried that this bill may deprive the children who are not vaccinated from receiving a basic education. Senate Bill 277 once accepted will end the ability of the parents to choose non-vaccination for their schoolchildren under the pretext of personal belief or religious exemption.
The bill was earlier presented for voting, but the education committee had suggested two amendments. The proposed bill is now to be tabled on Wednesday with slight modifications from its earlier version including two amendments.
Two Amendments Introduced
According to the first amendment, the homeschooled children can avoid vaccinations even though they do not belong to the same family or household. Another amendment by the committee says that the students who have taken admission in an independent study program can be exempted.
Sen Richard Pan on Tuesday said that he is very much positive that his proposed bill will progress as the new amendments allow the families to homeschool their kids if they do not want to vaccinate them. Such students can then opt for independent study. Although the bill has received wide support from education, medical and the public health groups, several opponents have already flooded the city hoping to stop the bill from advancing.
