Bill to Provide Parents Immunization Information to Prevent Outbreaks March 2, 2012 Advocacy, CMA, News, Public Health vaccination, AB 2109, CMA-sponsored bill, Richard Pan 0 Aimed at reducing infectious outbreaks, Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) introduced AB 2109 to provide parents with health information that they can use to help keep their children and other members of the community safe and prevent epidemics like the 2010 pertussis outbreak that caused over 9000 infections, 800 hospitalizations, and ten deaths in California. “Parents are on the front line when it comes to protecting the health of their children and their communities,” he said in a statement. “This bill empowers them with up-to-date, accurate information about immunizations.” The number of unvaccinated children has grown over the last decade, partly because some parents fear there is a link between the shots and autism, a theory that has been repeatedly disproved in scientific literature. California is also one of 20 states that allow parents to sign a form that excludes their children from having to receive the immunizations. AB 2109 would simply ensure that parents receive accurate information about immunizations from a licensed health care practitioner before they decide if they will sign the form. AB 2109 is sponsored by the California Medical Association (CMA), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the California Immunization Coalition. “As physicians, we want to know that our patients have all the information they need to make sound medical decisions,” said CMA President James Hay, MD. “AB 2109 will help parents learn all of the benefits and risks associated with immunization, as well as the health risks of the diseases themselves. This is sound legislation that will greatly contribute to children’s and the public health.” Comments are closed.
