Chiropractors Oppose Bill To End Personal Belief Vaccine Waivers
California chiropractors are pushing back against a bill (SB 277), by state Sens. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and Ben Allen (D-Redondo Beach), that would end all personal belief exemptions to childhood vaccination requirements, the Los Angeles Times' "PolitiCal" reports (Mason, "PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 3/5).
California law currently allows parents to opt out of vaccine requirements for school by first consulting with a licensed health care provider or by claiming religious objections ("Capitol Desk," California Healthline, 2/5).
If the bill is enacted, California would become the third state to only allow exemptions in cases when they are medically necessary (California Healthline, 2/20).
Details of Opposition
Last week, the California Chiropractic Association told state lawmakers that opposing the measure is at the top of the group's legislative agenda.
CCA President Brian Stenzler said, "Chiropractors themselves choose to become chiropractors because they like to live a more natural lifestyle, free of drugs and surgery when possible," adding that the notion of "forced medical procedures goes against a lot of chiropractors' own personal values."
However, Stenzler noted there are "many chiropractors that choose to vaccinate and many that choose not to."
Shannan Martinez, a spokesperson for Pan, said the lawmaker "makes a point to always hear out opposition," but "he is confident this is the right approach for the health and safety of children, and he and his fellow joint authors are working hard to convince their colleagues, 23 of whom have already signed on as early co-authors" ("PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 3/5).
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