SB 277 Clears State Assembly June 25, 2015 Public Health SB 277, Vaccination 0 Senate Bill 277 jumped its final hurdle in the state Assembly today, clearing the house with a 46-30 vote. The bill now heads back to the Senate, where legislators will consider amendments made in the Assembly. Today’s decision aligns with the opinions of two-thirds of Californians, who believe children should not be allowed to attend public school unless they are vaccinated, according to a recent Public Policy Institute of California poll. The San Francisco Medical Society would like to thank the legislators, especially Assemblymember David Chiu who is a co-author of SB 277, for their support and leadership on this important piece of legislation that will improve public health and keep our communities safe. SB 277 would remove the personal belief exemption (PBE) from school vaccination requirements, allowing exemptions only for medical reasons. The SB 277 immunization requirements would apply to students first admitted to school or who enter seventh grade after July 1, 2016. It would also help protect the most vulnerable, including babies too young to be immunized and people who are immunocompromised, by making it more difficult for preventable diseases to spread. The bill has received widespread support from health and education organizations across the state, including the SFMS and CMA; the American Academy of Pediatrics, California; California State PTA; California Immunization Coalition; and the California Children’s Hospital Association. Additionally, several other community groups, local governments, and newspapers have also endorsed the bill. Comments are closed.
