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Vermont House Committee Takes Testimony On Vaccination Exemption

The Vermont House Health Care Committee is taking three days of testimony this week on a bill that would eliminate the state’s philosophical exemption allowing parents to opt out of a child’s vaccinations.

The House committee is considering whether to approve Senate-passed legislation that would end the philosophical exemption for parents who don't want to get their kids immunized.

The exemption has been in place since 1979 in the state. Vermont Coalition for Vaccine Choice co-founder and president Jennifer Stella says parents feel strongly they should retain their ability to choose.   “The exemption is an important part of the decision making process for parents. We’ve got a situation right now where the lawmakers are taking testimony on an amendment that was put onto a bill that had already passed the House. It has come back to the House now with this amendment to repeal the exemption. The committee seemed very attentive and listening carefully to all the concerns of those parents who really feel strongly about keeping the exemption.”

Those who want the philosophical exemption eliminated say those who support it are a vocal minority. The Vermont Division of the March of Dimes is a member of the Vermont Immunization Action Network.  Executive Director Roger Clapp says the exemption is being used more frequently, which poses a danger to Vermont’s youth.   “There was a poll taken earlier this year that indicates that 73 percent of respondents in Vermont support eliminating the philosophical exemption because they want their children protected .  We need to have a 90 percent immunization rate in all venues, in all schools, in order to have the security of having that ‘herd immunity’ so that preventable diseases like measles will not become an epidemic.”

The Vermont Coalition for Vaccine Choice drew upon Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for some high profile help as he presented testimony Tuesday, asking legislators to preserve the philosophical exemption. The coalition’s Jennifer Stella calls him an outspoken advocate.   “He understands the issue and he, like many people, supports both immunization as well as the right to choose. And so I think that it’s important for people to understand that the vast majority of folks that are supporting this philosophical exemption can, and do, still support immunization.  They’re just asking for the right to choose.”

Some believe if the philosophical exemption is removed, parents will default to the religious exemption. Roger Clapp doubts that will be a serious issue.   “It’s just too easy when we have that philosophical exemption in place for parents to say ‘Oh well, I think we’re safe.’ So I really do think that if we take away the philosophical exemption yes you’re going to have some people that this goes against their belief system.  But I think that many people will just say oh okay this is the best thing for my child and I no longer have a convenient way to avoid it.”

Testimony continues before the House Health Care committee Thursday morning.

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