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A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 7 May 2019
States seek to cut off religious exemptions for vaccination

By SUSAN HAIGH there say the majority of its
Associated Press cases have occurred in Or-
Connecticut's Attorney thodox Jewish communities
General gave state law- in New York City and near-
makers the legal go-ahead by Rockland County.
Monday to pursue legisla- Connecticut has had three
tion that would prevent confirmed cases of mea-
parents from exempting sles, including one tied to
their children from vaccina- New York.
tions for religious reasons, a Last week, the Maine state
move that several states Senate moved to end
are considering amid a sig- philosophical exemptions
nificant measles outbreak. to vaccines but stopped
The non-binding ruling from short of ending religious ex-
William Tong, a Democrat, emptions. The bill still awaits
was released the same further legislative action.
day public health officials And last month, California's
in neighboring New York Senate Health Committee
called on state legislators approved a proposal to
there to pass similar legisla- give state public health of-
tion . Most of the cases in ficials, instead of doctors,
the current outbreak have the power to decide which
been in New York state. children can skip their shots
Tong offered no stance on before attending school.
whether the Connecticut In this March 13, 2019 file photo, mothers Ariana Rawls, left, of Stratford, Conn., and Shannon Meanwhile, the Colorado
Gamache, right, of Ashford, Conn., talk to reporters about legislative efforts to change the state's
General Assembly should vaccination laws at the Capitol, in Hartford, Conn. legislature last week aban-
scrap the exclusion, but he Associated Press doned efforts to make it
made it clear in the seven- harder for parents to option
page letter there is nothing to opt out of vaccinations ter in Tennessee. Yet the June 5. their children out of vac-
in the law that would pre- for religious purposes. In number of people seeking "I think there's a growing cines. The bill had drawn
vent the state from ending the face of outbreaks of the religious exemption consensus that Connecti- big crowds of vaccination
the exemption. vaccine-preventable dis- in Connecticut has been cut is going to need to do opponents to the state
"There is no serious or rea- eases, some have alleged consistently climbing. There something pretty bold in Capitol. In Connecticut,
sonable dispute as to the religious exemptions have were 316 issued during the the coming weeks, com- parents' rights groups, so-
State's broad authority to been abused by "anti-vaxx- 2003-04 school year, com- ing months," Ritter said last cially conservative groups
require and regulate immu- ers" who believe vaccines pared to 1,255 in the 2017- week. and dozens of Republican
nizations for children: the are harmful despite over- 18 school year. While Connecticut's state- lawmakers have balked
law is clear that the State whelming evidence to the Democratic House Majority wide immunization rate is at the discussion of rolling
of Connecticut may cre- contrary. Leader Matt Ritter, of Hart- high — 96.5% of kindergar- back the stateeligious ex-
ate, eliminate or suspend But the proposals to elimi- ford, who wants the Gen- ten students are vaccinat- emption. Angry parents
the religious exemption," nate the opt-outs have eral Assembly to vote on ed for measles, mumps and have appeared at the
Tong wrote, adding that it's also sparked emotional ending the exemption, had rubella — concern persists Capitol for weeks, making it
within the state's "well-set- debates about religious requested Tong's formal about the growing number clear to legislators they be-
tled power to protect pub- freedom and the rights of opinion — his first since tak- of families that have sought lieve their rights are at risk.
lic safety and health." parents. ing office in January. the religious exemption in "They want to stop people
Connecticut is just one of Most religions have no pro- It's unclear when or if Con- recent years and the likeli- who they think are abusing
several states considering hibitions against vaccina- necticut lawmakers might hood of bogus exemptions. the religious exemption and
whether to end longstand- tions, according to Vander- vote on ending the exemp- The state's Department that is incorrect. The gov-
ing laws that allow people bilt University Medical Cen- tion this session, which ends of Public Health released ernment has zero right to
school-by-school data for ask you what your religion
the first time on Friday that is or for you to explain it,"
showed more than 100 out said Shannon Gamache,
of more than 1,300 public of Ashford, in a recent in-
and private schools listed terview. She chose not to
fell below the Centers for have her son fully vaccinat-
Disease Control and Pre- ed after he experienced
vention's recommended what she believes were
95% immunization rate adverse side effects from a
among kindergarteners. vaccine. All 50 states have
In neighboring New York, laws requiring students to
medical organizations and have certain vaccinations.
county health officials on According to the National
Monday called for elimi- Conference of State Leg-
nating that state's religious islatures, all but Mississippi,
exemptions for vaccines West Virginia and Califor-
and allowing only medical nia grant religious exemp-
exemptions. Most of the na- tions. As of Jan. 30, the
tion's 764 reported cases of conference said 17 states
measles, according to the allowed people to exempt
Centers for Disease Control their children for personal,
and Prevention, have been moral or other philosophi-
in New York. Health officials cal beliefs.q