California Governor Toughens Vaccination Requirements for Children

Following a measles outbreak in the country in December in the Disneyland theme park, California's governor on Tuesday, June 30, 2015, signed a bill toughening vaccination requirements for children. Jerry Brown informed that the new law will require all children to be immunized before entering kindergarten, with exceptions allowed only if a doctor advises against immunization. The measure garnered support from both Republicans and Democrats. Brown said, "The science is clear, that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious and dangerous diseases. While it's true that no medical intervention is without risk, the evidence shows that immunization powerfully benefits and protects the community. The bill exempts a child if a doctor says there are circumstances, including but not limited to, family medical history, for which the physician does not recommend immunization."

About 159 cases of measles were recorded between January and April, 2015, in 18 states and the US capital during the outbreak. Measles was believed to have disappeared years ago in the US thanks to vaccination programs. But when some parents stopped vaccinating their children against the viral disease due to a range of beliefs, measles made a comeback. The disease is highly contagious, and causes fever and rash that can lead to brain damage, loss of hearing or sight and sometimes death.

Source-AFP