Most California school children will have to be vaccinated if they want to attend school in the state. Governor Jerry Brown signed a mandatory vaccine bill into law Tuesday.
The bill eliminates the personal belief exemption for children whose parents do not want them to be vaccinated.
In a signing statement, Brown said “the science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious and dangerous diseases.” Brown acknowledged that there is a risk associated with medical intervention, but he says immunizations benefit and protect the community.
California is now the third state in the country to only offer a medical exemption for vaccines. Opponents of the measure say it violates children’s right to an education and parents’ right to make decisions for their families.
This story was produced by Capital Public Radio.