CO. parents rally against end of non-medical vaccine exemptions

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BEND, Ore. – Parents held a rally at Bend's Drake Park on Saturday, one of many rallies held around the state to oppose legislation that would end non-medical immunization exemptions for students attending public or private schools.

Bill 3063 would have Eliminate current exemptions from religious and philosophical vaccines and reach the families of more than 31,000 children in Oregon.

The rally participants, one of five held around the state on Saturday, wore yellow shirts bearing the inscription "Land of freedom, not with HB 3063" and held placards promoting similar messages.

The organizers said the argument was not whether they were for or against vaccines, but that parents should have the ability to make crucial health decisions for their child without interference or consequences of the government.

"It's not a vaccine problem – it's a problem of freedom," Mother April Groom said, standing next to her son "It is to know who owns our body and who decides what is injected into his arm."

Also On Saturday, state representative Cheri Helt of R-Bend, one of the leading proponents of the measure, issued a statement outlining recent changes to the bill. She said the recent measles outbreaks among children in Portland and Clark County, Washington, "emphasize the importance of this legislation."

Helt said she "wants to combat the prevailing public sentiment that medically safe vaccines are more dangerous than the diseases they prevent.""

"I will continue to champion science, the safety of Oregon children and evidence-based public policy," Helt said. "We need to make sure that children, families and communities are not at risk of getting easily preventable diseases – it is important to protect those who do not have the opportunity to get vaccinated. our most vulnerable young people through herd immunity."

After several meetings with opponents of the measure, Helt said she "amended the bill to address some of their concerns, including: limiting the scope of the bill to contain only vaccines currently required in Oregon, increase virtual school attendance and extend the length of stay to fully vaccinate students until August 1, 2020," rather than take effect this fall.

Helt said she was also working with state senator, Steiner Hayward "to address concerns about the accessibility of medical exemptions." The bill is currently before the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

The amended bill, HB 3063-A, lists 10 "diseases that may be limited," parents could not refuse the required vaccinations, especially against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, rubella, mumps and hepatitis A and B. The Oregon Health Authority could recommend d & # 39; other diseases to children.

The measure would prohibit unvaccinated children from "attending school activities in person", while allowing them to take courses online.