Alabama bill regarding vaccine religious exemptions heads to senate floor – WIAT – CBS42.com

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) Every year, Alabama students must stay up to date on their vaccinations. One lawmaker said that the government can only do so much when it comes to religious beliefs.

Under current Alabama law, parents must receive written notice from the county health department to exempt their child from a vaccination. State Sen. Arthur Orrs (R-Decatur) bill to change the current vaccine exemption policy was passed by the Senate Education Policy Committee.

The bill mandates written statements from parents as the only documentation needed to get exemptions. Orr said hes heard concerns from many of his constituents.

Ive received complaints from parents saying Well, I went to the county health department. I waited for an hour or two to see the right person, then I had a government bureaucrat start questioning me about why I have certain religious beliefs,' Orr said.

But Dr. Nola Ernest, president of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said children might get diseases that are preventable as a result of this bill.

For pediatricians, our reaction to increasing religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccines is a little bit one of fear, Ernest said. Many of us have not practiced in a time where vaccine preventable diseases were rampant.

Orr said the bill is about parents right to religious exemptions.

But we need to take the government out of the process as far as determining, or probing, ones religious beliefs, Orr said.

After passing through the committee, the bill now heads to the floor for a vote.

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Alabama bill regarding vaccine religious exemptions heads to senate floor - WIAT - CBS42.com