Was anyone following this? HB 1342 would greatly reduce the exemptions parents have to not vaccinate their children(similar to California, but even stricter, from my understanding).
I am pro-vaccine and was hopeful it would be passed, but the opposition was very vocal and organized. I'm sad the followed under the pressure. All the emails and loud protesters at the hearing shut it down, but hopefully not forever!
pomelo / 5257 posts
I'm from Virginia, but don't live there any more, so I hadn't heard. It didn't pass then? Or they haven't reached a conclusion yet? I would be 100 percent in favor.
ETA: Wait, I just read a news story that said it would remove medical exemptions. Is that accurate? That I'm not on board with. There's nothing parents can do if their child is not medically able to be vaccinated, which is why it's so important for the rest of us to be. So I can't really understand not allowing medical exemptions...I don't see a lot of info about this when I search, though.
grapefruit / 4800 posts
I hadn't heard about it but it sounds pretty restrictive, only a few medical exemptions and applies to all private and homeschooled kids. I'm not surprised it didn't pass. Even for people who vaccinate there's still a lot of people who disagree with the government having that much authority.
pomelo / 5000 posts
@MrsSCB: it didn't pass. It would still allow for exemptions that meet the federal guidelines for vaccine contraindications.
@Maysprout: I was hopeful it would pass, but wasn't surprised it did not. When speaking to a doctor who was involved in the process, however, he said he had great momentum and people were very positive it would pass. It got shelved until next year. It also applies to daycares.
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
It was an absurd bill - far too many regulations. The government should not have that kind of authority - they don't own our bodies. I'm fine with no exemptions for children (outside of needed medical ones) that attend public school or other government programs (like the bill in CA) but this one was too much.
pomelo / 5000 posts
@coopsmama: when that occurred in California, I had a mixed reaction. I'm very pro vaccines, but I don't like the government having a say so over my body. But at the end of the day, I really don't like babies being left unvaccinated, and that wins out. It is alarming to me how the numbers of anti vaxxers are growing.
I find it crazy how easy it is for people not to vaccinate their babies in Virginia, and the proposed bill seemed reasonable to me. I don't see why those in private schools or home schools should have different guidelines --they are still out and about and members of society.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@coopsmama: completely agree with you word for word. I'm pro-vaccination, and while there are crazies who are very vocally anti-vax for silly reasons (autism, "big pharma"), there are also parents who spend countless hours reading medical journals, articles, books, consulting doctors advice, etc. and even though I can't agree with their personal decisions, I still think they deserve the freedom to make those decisions. Yes, even if it puts my child at risk. I choose to believe (hope and pray) that my choices to vaccinate him, will protect him.
I understand mine is not a popular opinion, and that's okay with me. I just wish there was a whole lot more compassion in the debates than finger-pointing.
pomelo / 5660 posts
@coopsmama: agree. I'm pro vaccine but I don't want government having that kind of authority.
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
@Happygal: We will just have to part company philosophically then because I don't find it reasonable at all. I would not support any mandate like that. At the end of the day it's a choice to put your kids in public school and abide by the laws that govern them and I will support that wholeheartedly, but it is a very slippery slope to go further than that. Don't forget there is a list of MD's a mile long that questions vaccines and their efficacy and there ARE risks. This is a medical procedure and we all have a right to informed consent. Regardless of what I may believe about vaccines or any other procedure, I can't force my beliefs on someone on this or any other area. The freedom that comes with being an American and all that. 
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
@BandDmommy: @Mrs. Pen: Yes. It's all about choice and holding the authority over your own body. It really is just a philosophical difference I think.
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