(Left) U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
“While a small number of children cannot be vaccinated due to an underlying medical condition, we believe there should be no such thing as a philosophical or personal belief exemption, since everyone uses public spaces,” Senators Boxer and Feinstein wrote. “As we have learned in the past month, parents who refuse to vaccinate their children not only put their own family at risk, but they also endanger other families who choose to vaccinate.”
A recent analysis of California preschool immunization records by the Los Angeles Times found that some preschools had measles vaccination rates as low as 36 percent. These numbers are alarming to public officials and health experts, who say that a 92 percent vaccination rate is a minimum to prevent an outbreak like measles from spreading rapidly, and a greater than 95 percent vaccination rate is preferred.
The Senators’ letter points out that under current California law, parents have two options to opt out of vaccine requirements for school and daycare: they can either make the decision with the help of a health professional, or they can simply check a box claiming that they have religious objections to medical care. The Senators wrote, “We think both options are flawed, and oppose even the notion of a medical professional assisting to waive a vaccine requirement unless there is a medical reason, such as an immune deficiency.”
A small number of children cannot be vaccinated due to an underlying medical condition or because their immune system is being suppressed by chemotherapy or a recent transplant. But the current measles outbreak demonstrates the dangers of large numbers of parents opting out of vaccinating their children for non-medical reasons – including the risks to children and families who follow the advice of medical experts and complete their vaccinations.
Senators Boxer and Feinstein also asked Secretary Dooley to review the state’s policy in light of the growing trend of parents failing to follow full vaccine schedules and of schools and daycare centers failing to track families that have pledged to complete vaccines after the beginning of the school year.
The Senators wrote, “Together, we can ensure that policies are grounded on sound science, which shows that vaccines are not only safe, but are incredibly effective and necessary for the health of our children.”
The full text of the letter follows:
February 4, 2015
The Honorable Diana Dooley
Secretary, California Health and Human Services
1600 9th Street, Room 450
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Secretary Dooley:
We write today to ask that you and other appropriate state officials reconsider California’s policy on vaccine exemptions.
As you know, both on the news and around family dinner tables, Americans are discussing the safety of their children at schools, daycare centers, and public places due to the return of communicable diseases that were once eradicated in this country. The urgency surrounding these discussions has grown since more than 100 people in 14 states have contracted measles due to an outbreak originating in California.
While a small number of children cannot be vaccinated due to an underlying medical condition, we believe there should be no such thing as a philosophical or personal belief exemption, since everyone uses public spaces. As we have learned in the past month, parents who refuse to vaccinate their children not only put their own family at risk, but they also endanger other families who choose to vaccinate.
California’s current law allows two options for parents to opt out of vaccine requirements for school and daycare: they must either make this decision with the aid of a health professional, or they can simply check a box claiming that they have religious objections to medical care. We think both options are flawed, and oppose even the notion of a medical professional assisting to waive a vaccine requirement unless there is a medical reason, such as an immune deficiency.
Furthermore, recent reports have shown that the problem is not limited to parents opting out of all vaccinations. There is also a growing trend of parents failing to follow full vaccine schedules and schools and daycare centers failing to track those families that have pledged to get the required vaccines after the year begins. We think that under your leadership, California can change this practice and reassure families that all children are safe at schools, daycare centers, and in other public places.
The development of vaccines is one of the greatest public health achievements in our nation’s history. Together, we can ensure that policies are grounded on sound science, which shows that vaccines are not only safe, but are incredibly effective and necessary for the health of our children. Please let us know if we can be helpful as you examine California’s policy, including acting as a liaison to federal public health authorities and agencies.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
