At least 2 states look at broadening vaccine exemptions

The latest Measles outbreak and misleading information about the vaccine have many doctors concerned. But some doctors are still against all vaccines, including an Arizona doctor who's under the state's medical board's investigation. VPCLarimer County public health nurse Ellie Duke prepares a vaccination in 2011.(Photo: Dawn Madura, Fort Collins Coloradoan)Lawmakers in two states that represent the high and low of measles vaccination rates are considering bills to allow greater choice in getting children immunized.In Mississippi, more than 99.7% of kindergarteners received two doses of vaccine against measles, mumps and German measles in the 2013-14 school year, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Colorado, the rate was 81.7%; nationwide the average is 94.7%.In both states, some parents — groups called Mississippi Parents for Vaccine Rights and the Colorado Coalition for Vaccine Choice — have been active in their support of the bills. Federal health officials say unvaccinated children have been at the root of a recent outbreak of measles in 14 states, including Colorado."We got the Health Department out of the way, so they can't block medical exemptions like they did in the past," said parent Amy Martin of Jackson, Miss. She supports Mississippi House Bill 130 that would put into law the state's existing practice of granting medical waivers to children whose doctors request them and prevent the Mississippi Department of Health from denying such requests, which happened in some instances before 2007.The Mississippi bill passed the House Education Committee on Tuesday, saving it from extinction before a crucial deadline, but it still must pass the full state House and Senate before reaching the governor's desk.Colorado's Senate Bill 15-077 would codify parents' rights to make all medical, mental-health care and education decisions for their children younger than 18 — including whether to have them immunized. The state Senate's Education Committee is scheduled to have a hearing on the bill Thursday.Colorado already is one of 20 states that allow a personal-belief exemption for parents who want to opt out of vaccinating their children and one of 48 that allow religious exemptions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.Mississippi allows neither exemption, but the original version of its HB 130 would have allowed exemptions for "conscientious beliefs," language that was removed from the version passed Tuesday.Some Mississippi legislators said they have personally intervened on families' behalf to get the state health department to approve requests from physicians."Now if a pediatrician decides it's best not to vaccinate or that it's best to spread out vaccinations, that decision will be honored," said Tracey Liles of Grenada, Miss., an HB 130 supporter.Liles and Martin, like most HB 130 supporters in Mississippi, said they believe in fully vaccinating youngsters but want more flexibility in the schedule without having to keep their children out of schools or day-care centers.To enter kindergarten in Mississippi, children need five vaccines in a series of 16 shots, according to the state epidemiologist.Colorado has the same requirements, according to a comparison of each state's websites.About half of Colorado's U.S. House delegation doesn't think immunization against childhood diseases such as measles, polio, whooping cough, diphtheria and chicken pox should be mandatory."Vaccination decisions are very personal and in almost every case should be made by parents consulting with their physician," said Greg Brophy, chief of staff to Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo. "We'll leave the legal question to local authorities, school boards. And day-care centers can set their own standards."Contributing: Brandon Rittiman, KUSA-TV, DenverOnly Mississippi and West Virginia do not allow parents to opt of of vaccinating their children for religious or personal beliefs. Twenty states allow exemptions for personal beliefs; 28 additional states and the District of Columbia allow religious exemptions.Source: National Conference of State LegislaturesMeasles: 5 things you need to knowFeb 05, 2015