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AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Democratic Gov. Janet Mills on Friday signed a law that eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations in Maine.
Maine has some of the highest rates of non-medical immunization exemptions in the nation, and health officials say the opt-out rates appear to be rising.
"As we hear more reports of measles and other preventable diseases in the country," said Democratic Rep. Ryan Tipping of Orono, the bill's sponsor.
Maine will end non-medical vaccines opt-outs by 2021 for public and private schools and universities, including nursery school. Health care facility employees are also subject to the law.
Supporters say unvaccinated children at others at risk, especially those who can not receive inoculations for medical reasons. Objectives of the legislation of children and parents who remain unvaccinated.
The Maine Center for Disease Control recently announced the first case of the measles in the state since 2017. The state is dealing with an outbreak of whooping cough, for which there is a vaccine.
Maine joins California, Mississippi and West Virginia to become the fourth state of health.
Opponents warn that a legal fight is brewing over whether or not the law is going to be too much. The Maine Constitution says "no person shall be hurt, molested or retrained" for following God's conscience.
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