Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Calif. Bill To Tighten Vaccine Rules Sails Through State Senate
The San Francisco Chronicle: Vaccination Bill Passes California Senate; Opponents Vow Fight
Opponents of a proposed law that would mandate vaccination for all California schoolchildren vowed to continue fighting the legislation Thursday after it easily won approval by the state Senate. (Allday, 5/14)
The San Jose Mercury News: Vaccine Exemptions: California Senate Overwhelmingly Passes SB 277, Abolishing Most Opt-Outs
A controversial bill that abolishes "personal belief exemptions" for vaccinations won overwhelming approval in the California Senate on Thursday, bolstering supporters' hopes that it will also clear the Assembly and be signed into law. (Krieger, 5/14)
Reuters: California Senate Votes To End Beliefs Waiver For School Vaccinations
California parents who do not vaccinate their children would have to home-school them under a bill passed Thursday by the state Senate, the latest move in a battle between public health officials and "anti-vaxxers" who fear vaccines are dangerous. The bill, which eliminates the so-called personal beliefs exemption allowing parents to forego vaccinations if opposed to them for any reason, was introduced after a measles outbreak at Disneyland last year that sickened more than 100 people. (Bernstein, 5/14)
NPR: Calif. Moves Closer To Banning Vaccine 'Personal Belief' Exemptions
California's state Senate has passed a bill to eliminate "personal belief exemptions" that currently allow parents to opt out of having their school-age children vaccinated. SB 277, sponsored by Democratic Sens. Richard Pan of Sacramento and Ben Allen of Santa Monica, passed 25 to 10 and now advances to the Assembly. (Neuman, 5/14)
