measles vaccine (Photo : Reuters)
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a controversial no-exemption vaccine law on Tuesday, making California the third state to pass such strict legislation. Senate Bill 277 requires mandatory immunization for all California children who attend the state's private and public schools, unless a doctor provides a certified medical exemption. Full vaccination is required, including shots for mumps, measles and hepatitis B, despite the personal opinions and religious beliefs of a child's parents.
California's new legislation includes 10 vaccines. They are required for youngsters who attend both public and private schools.
The new California law will take effect on July 1, 2016. Children will be unable to begin kindergarten or seventh grade until schools have verified their immunization records.
The SB277 bill includes one key amendment. Many pre-first grade children of about 13,000 parents who claimed exemptions for personal beliefs will not require immunization shots until seventh grade, according to Mercury News.
Parents who refuse to obey the new law can enroll their children in a public school's program for independent study. Another option is a home school.
California joins only two other states with strict vaccination laws that allow no exemptions for religious or personal beliefs. They are West Virginia and Mississippi.
The state's lawmakers took steps to eliminate the bill's exemptions following a measles outbreak in California's Disneyland in December, infecting 136 people. The bill's authors stated that more full immunizations could have prevented the viral outbreak.
Gov. Brown referred to the vaccine law as a victory of science over superstitions. It will help to improve and protect communities.
Several California parents avoided vaccines for their kids, believing that they caused medical conditions such as autism, according to The Daily Caller. However, Brown noted that any "medical intervention" has risk.
