Another mandatory vaccination bill advancing

When it comes to toughening state vaccination laws, the Legislature’s not done yet. A measure that would require child-care workers to be vaccinated for three common childhood diseases has passed a key vote in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. KQED News has the details:

It was the last committee stop for the bill, which passed the Senate and now will be up for an Assembly floor vote.

 

SB792, by Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, would require vaccination for whooping cough, measles and influenza for all day care workers.

 

The only exemption for a whooping cough or measles immunization would be a physician’s note that exempts individuals for whom the vaccination would not be safe.

 

Day care workers who do not want to get the influenza vaccine, though, just need to fill out a form to become exempt from the requirement.

 

The bill also reiterated the need for evidence of being free of tuberculosis — known as “clearance” —  among day care workers, which already is required by law.

No crowds of protesters for this legislation

But unlike with legislation mandating that students get vaccinations before being allowed in school — a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown that ended nearly all exemptions and was criticized by, among others, the Washington Post editorial board — this bill is generating little controversy and enjoys bipartisan support. It was lobbied for by the Health Officers Association of California, the Child Care Law Center, the March of Dimes California chapter, and other groups that promote children’s interests, and faced criticism only from those who consider vaccinations dangerous.

Republicans who objected to the school vaccination bill as an attack on parental rights have accepted Mendoza’s argument that this is a common-sense measure to protect children and a reasonable job requirement for someone who works with young kids.

The measure passed the Senate on a 34-3 vote in May.

Before passing the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a 16-1 vote Wednesday, it won approval on a 6-1 vote in the Assembly Human Services Committee and on a 16-1 vote in the Assembly Health Committee.

If the bill is adopted by the full Assembly and signed by the governor, it will take effect Sept. 1, 2016.