Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Costco considers Central Point for relocation ... MADGE arrests five in raid on Eagle Point home ... DA: Butte Falls woman killed with daughter in April crash drove too fast ... Costco considers Central Point for relocation ... MADGE arrests five in raid on Eagle Point home ... DA: Butte Falls woman killed with daughter in April crash drove too fast ... OREGON LEGISLATURE Oregon bill would make school vaccine rates available Comment By Sylvia V. Kumar The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Sylvia V. Kumar The Associated Press Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 6:19 PM By Sylvia V. Kumar The Associated Press Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 6:19 PM » Social News SALEM — A month after a bill eliminating nonmedical exemptions from taking vaccines died in committee, Oregon lawmakers could have another fight over the issue after a Senate committee heard testimony Thursday on a bill requiring all schools to make public the rate of students opting out of one or more immunizations. Bill sponsor Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward has introduced legislation requiring schools to publish their vaccine immunization rates in easy-to-find places, such as on their website or at the main office. It also requires schools to notify parents of their exemption rates both at the beginning of the school year and a month after exclusion day, the deadline for parents to prove their children have up-to-date vaccinations, she said. Oregon's highest-in-the-nation rate of non-medical exemptions for kindergartners — 7 percent — has state health officials worried some schools won't be able to achieve "herd immunity," which means enough people are vaccinated to prevent a disease from spreading. Herd immunity is especially beneficial for people who can't get vaccinated, such as the very young or patients with leukemia. "It's important to give parents information so they can make an informed choice and if they need to talk about special protections for their child at that school or considering transferring for health reasons," said Steiner Hayward, a Beaverton Democrat. Opponents of the measure argued this bill would publicly shame parents who decided to opt out of some vaccines. Others, such as Holly Garland, a U.S. Navy veteran who testified against the bill, said the proposal was simply a previous bill Steiner Hayward had introduced, eliminating nonmedical exemptions to vaccines, in a new disguise. That proposal would have made Oregon the third state in the country allowing exemptions from immunizations only for medical reasons. Steiner Hayward has said she decided to no longer pursue the legislation because the conversation had largely shifted from discussion about the health and well-being of Oregon's children to a debate about the credibility of vaccine science. "When are the medically fragile people going to come to my child's school? I mean, these people who have chemo, wouldn't they be home, wouldn't they be too weak?" Garland said. The bill also undoes part of a measure Steiner Hayward passed two years ago, which required parents enrolling unvaccinated children in school to either prove they consulted a physician for information or show a certificate verifying they had watched an online educational video about the risks and benefits of immunizations. Under this new bill, parents wishing to opt out of vaccinations would no longer have the option of watching the educational module and would instead have to submit a document signed by a health care practitioner, such as a physician, in order to send their children to school. By Sylvia V. Kumar The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Sylvia V. Kumar The Associated Press Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 6:19 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501