California tightens vaccination legislation: what you need to know

California's new vaccination law prohibits the misuse of health benefits that allow children to go to school without some or all of the vaccines. The law takes away from the doctor the right of last resort in matters of medical exemption from vaccinations and allows you to investigate individual cases of such exceptions. Opponents of vaccination believe that now doctors are afraid to exempt even those children who really need it from vaccinations.

Photo: Depositphotosvaccin

The new law provides broad powers in the issue of medical withdrawal from vaccinations for public health officials, writes Calmatters. Supporters of the law are satisfied that the last word is not up to the doctors and they can be held accountable for the frequent execution of recusals. Supporters say that the more children get vaccines, the safer schools will be for all children.

Critics and opponents fear that the law will effectively close access to medical disabilities for children who really need such exceptions. Opponents say doctors may fear the law, and thousands of children can be expelled from schools if they are not vaccinated at the right time and in the right amount.

What changed the new law

In California, children must be vaccinated or have medical exemption to attend school. The new law allows health officials to make a final decision on these challenges and gives the right to reject them. The reasons for medical exemptions must continue to follow strict guidelines, and doctors will now be prohibited from charging fees for examinations or forms associated with such permits.

The law, signed by the governor last week, requires doctors to examine patients and submit their recommendations to the state health department. Officials then compare these recommendations with those of the Centers for Disease Immunization Advisory Committee or the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Now the state is not involved in providing students with medical withdrawal from vaccinations. Parents receive them from doctors and transfer them to schools, and schools with kindergartens are required to submit summary data to the state every fall. The state does not receive exemption forms or information about doctors. Starting next year, parents will continue to follow the same procedure, but from 2021 onwards, doctors will send exceptions directly to the state for review and distribution in schools.

On the subject: A teenager from Kentucky fell ill with chickenpox while suing the city because of his removal from school through a reluctance to be vaccinated

As soon as the law enters into force on January 1, officials will begin examining all medical exceptions in schools where less than 95% of students are vaccinated, as well as withdrawals received from doctors who filed 5 or more of these documents within one year, and school data will be examined. who do not report vaccine information to the state.

If the state determines that the physician is “contributing to a public health risk,” he will report the physician to the California Medical Board. A medical challenge received from such a doctor will be canceled.

Children with medical exemptions issued before 1 of January of the following year may retain this right until they move to the next grade. After July 1 2021, students with temporary medical allotments will be required to receive new ones every year.

Why did you have to tighten the rules

For several years, vaccination has been a hot issue in California, although almost 95% of kindergartens were fully vaccinated in the last school year. At the same time, the proportion of kindergartens with medical allotments. Last year, 0,9% (or 4812) kindergartens had benefits. In some places, indicators are higher: in 16 districts, the vaccination rate in kindergartens was lower than 90%.

The vast majority of children are vaccinated, so what's the deal? California's vaccination rate is indeed high, but an increase in the number of children with disabilities can lead to a decrease in so-called collective or herd immunity. The concept of such immunity is that if enough children are vaccinated, those for whom vaccinations are ineffective or cannot be vaccinated for health reasons (for example, they have autoimmune diseases or cancer therapy) will be protected because everyone around them is vaccinated .

The public group Doctors for Informed Consent calls words about herd immunity misinformation if they apply to all vaccinations. The group says non-communicable diseases should not require compulsory vaccination because they are not transmitted to other children through contact in a group - for example, tetanus or hepatitis B, although they are given even to newborns.

On the subject: New Yorkers banned from giving up vaccination for religious reasons

Opponents say the law is trying to solve a problem that does not exist. Instead, he can force thousands of children to leave school or quickly make a series of vaccines, even if they have legal medical exceptions. In California, children must receive an 15-16 vaccine to enter kindergarten. Some of these vaccinations are combined.

Opponents suggest that the state focus on a larger percentage of children suffering from diseases and conditions such as diabetes, asthma, autoimmune disorders, as well as conditions such as autism. They may have various dangerous reactions to vaccines.

Does the fight go on?

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an active opponent of California law, said his Child Health Protection organization intends to sue the state to block the law. A group of opponents this week began a process to try to repeal the new law through an electoral measure that will be addressed to voters next November.

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