California Vaccine Bill Update: SB277 Clears Health Committee, What's Next?

The California Vaccine Bill SB277 was approved by the state's health committee. If passed, the legislation will not exempt any child from getting vaccinated regardless of religious or personal belief.

On Tuesday, the Assembly Health Committee voted 12-6 vote in favor of SB277. The bill will now be passed on to the full Assembly for endorsement, and will move forward to Gov. Jerry Brown, according to CBS Sacramento.

If SB277 gets approval, California will become the third U.S. state to have strict vaccination requirements along with Mississippi and West Virginia, according to International Business Times. However, medical exemptions can still be accepted under the law granting a child's medical condition hinders him or her from taking the required vaccines.

The bill was drafted and made in February by Senators Richard Pan and Ben Allen in response to the December measles outbreak that affected more than 100 people in California and several other states. According to Mercury News, the outbreak's end was announced just last April.

Since the bill is centered on school aged children, vaccination will now become a requirement for them to attend any public or private schools. For unvaccinated children who are exempt due to medical reasons, they can still attend public schools.

However, students, whose parents refused to be vaccinated but have no medical condition, will only have the option of being homeschooled.

"Let's be clear, this does not deny children an education, but it certainly does restrict parent options. There is no question about it. I'm not going to try to mince words," said Sen. Allen, as per SF Gate.

The opponents of the bill accused the lawmakers of being "fascists" during last Tuesday's votation.

"My biggest issue is the loss of freedom," assemblywoman Marie Wadlron, who was against the bill, voiced out her opinion. "Informed consent is a human right."

A pediatrician from Santa Monica opposed the bill claiming that it is the parent's prerogative to vaccinate their children. 

"I give vaccines in my office every day ... and yet I oppose this bill, because it's not about whether vaccines are good or bad," Gordon said.  "This bill asks a completely different question: Should all children in California be forced to be fully vaccinated in order to attend preschool, day care, kindergarten or high school despite their parents' personal religious and medical beliefs?"

In addition, SB277 could also potentially affect other states when it comes to their view on vaccination requirements and exemptions, Forbes reports.