Jessica Biel Ignites Firestorm Of Criticism After Speaking Out Against Controversial California Vaccination Bill
The actress Jessica Biel spoke to lawmakers about a bill that would give the final exemption authority to a state official rather than a doctor. Biel said she's not opposed to the vaccines themselves, but rather the fact that the state would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship. The move reflected one of the realities of anti-vaccine beliefs: They are held by individuals across the country who might have little else in common, politically or otherwise.
The New York Times:
Jessica Biel Weighs In On Vaccine Fight, Drawing Fierce Pushback
The public conversation over vaccines in America has been clouded by confusion, debunked scientific studies and unfounded claims over toxins and vaccine injury. But one image that spread widely on Thursday told a clear story: the actress Jessica Biel, sitting next to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly questioned the safety of vaccines, on a trip this week to lobby the California Legislature against a bill that would toughen immunization requirements in the state. (Bosman and Levin, 6/13)
The New York Times:
Here Is What Jessica Biel Opposes In California’s Vaccine Bill
California requires every child who attends a public or private school to be immunized against a number of diseases, including measles. California is one of four states that do not allow parents to opt out of vaccinating their children because of religious or personal beliefs (Maine, Mississippi and West Virginia are the others). But it does allow medical exemptions: A doctor can excuse a child from receiving some or all of the required vaccinations if there is a medical reason to do so. (Hassan, 6/13)
The Washington Post:
Jessica Biel Lobbied With Anti-Vaxxer Robert Kennedy But Says She Supports Vaccines
Biel, who is known for her role on the series “7th Heaven,” wrote on Instagram that she supports children getting vaccinations but is concerned that the bill’s medical exemption requirements are too strict. She said she worries about people such as her friends, whose child has a medical condition that requires exemption from vaccinations. (Iati, 6/13)
CNN:
Jessica Biel Says She's Not Against Vaccinations
SB 276, which is currently under review, is a California state bill that seeks to limit medical exemptions from vaccinations. The bill has been opposed by anti-vaccine advocates, as it effectively makes it harder for parents in the state to find a way around the strict rules that require children to receive vaccines before being enrolled in public or private elementary and secondary schools.
"My concern with #SB277 is solely regarding medical exemptions. My dearest friends have a child with a medical condition that warrants an exemption from vaccinations, and should this bill pass, it would greatly affect their family's ability to care for their child in this state," Biel's post continued. (Gonzalez, 6/13)
Los Angeles Times:
Jessica Biel, Facing Criticism, Explains Why She Opposes California Vaccine Bill
Vaccination proponents have lambasted Biel for appearing with foes of childhood immunizations, and some of the heat is coming from fellow celebrities. Comedian Jen Kirkman harshly criticized Biel in a tweet Thursday morning that has since been removed. “People are dying due to anti-vaxxers and your ignorance will contribute to that death toll,” she wrote. The bill has passed the state Senate but now faces a more organized opposition effort, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known critic of vaccinations. Biel quietly appeared with Kennedy at the Capitol on Tuesday, one week after Kennedy had lauded Gov. Gavin Newsom for critical remarks about the legislation. Newsom has stated he is not opposing the bill, but his remarks appear to have emboldened its critics. (Grad, 6/13)
California Healthline:
A Proposal To Make It Harder For Kids To Skip Vaccines Gives Powerful Voices Pause
As California lawmakers attempt to tighten the rules on childhood vaccinations, they’re getting pushback from unexpected quarters: high-profile officials who support vaccines. In the past few weeks, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and the members of the Medical Board of California have questioned a bill that would give the California Department of Public Health authority to decide whether a child can skip routine vaccinations. (Barry-Jester, 6/14)
