California bill ending ‘beliefs’ exemption for childhood vaccines advances
By Sharon Bernstein SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – California’s senate education committee approved a bill making it mandatory for children to be vaccinated before starting school despite opposition from “ant-vaxxer” parents who have packed public hearings and flooded lawmakers with calls. The bill, which has already passed the senate health committee, has several more hurdles to clear before becoming law. It next goes to the senate judiciary committee, before going to the state senate, and finally the assembly. Under the bill, only children with medical waivers to opt out of vaccinations would be exempted.