CA PTA MEDIA ADVISORY
March 25, 2015 – SACRAMENTO :: California State PTA, the state’s largest children’s advocacy organization, has taken a support position on Senate Bill 277 (Pan).
Currently, children entering the school system or child care are required to be immunized against various communicable diseases unless they medically cannot receive immunizations, or unless immunization is contrary to personal beliefs. SB 277 would eliminate the personal belief exemption and have all medically eligible children be immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases thus protecting vulnerable children.
California State PTA President Colleen A. R. You issued the following statement:
“PTA, both nationally and in California, has been a strong supporter of vaccinations for many decades. At past state conventions, our members approved two important resolutions -- Immunization Awareness and Education Programs and Measles (Rubeola*), Mumps and Rubella Vaccinations -- that are the basis for our authority to support SB 277.
“We are grateful to Senators Pan and Allen for their leadership on this vital health issue. It is our duty as a community to protect children in school, especially medically vulnerable children – and SB 277 will do that.
“We understand this may be a sensitive issue for some who wish to retain the personal-belief vaccine exemption, and we considered that important perspective. However, we believe the vaccines in use today are extremely safe and effective for the general population. Immunizations are recognized as one of the most beneficial and effective public-health measures.”
- For more information, see our information alert to members:
Information Alert
March 25, 2015
California State PTA supports immunization bill
California State PTA has taken a support position on Senate Bill 277 (Pan).
Currently, children entering the school system or child care are required to be immunized against various communicable diseases unless they medically cannot receive immunizations, or unless immunization is contrary to personal beliefs. SB 277 would eliminate the personal belief exemption and have all medically eligible children be immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases thus protecting vulnerable children.
Background
California has recently suffered two outbreaks of highly contagious diseases. Northern California experienced an outbreak of pertussis -- commonly called whooping cough -- last spring, and a recent outbreak of measles in Southern California has been traced to an initial exposure at Disneyland. There were at least three fatalities of young children associated with pertussis in Northern California counties. Measles can be fatal as well; however, there have been no reported deaths to date related to this recent outbreak.
The underlying tragedy is that these contagious diseases are preventable. Vaccines have dramatically decreased the rate of mortality associated with many viral and some bacterial diseases. The vaccines we use today are extremely safe and effective for the general population. Immunizations are recognized as one of the most beneficial and effective public-health measures.
PTA, both nationally and in California, has been a strong supporter of vaccinations. Beginning in 1925, PTA was a driving force behind providing check-ups to identify health problems in 5- to 6-year-olds entering school for the first time. This became the main vehicle for immunizing children against diseases.
The members of California State PTA have adopted two resolutions -- Immunization Awareness and Education Programs and Measles (Rubeola*), Mumps and Rubella Vaccinations -- that are the basis for our authority to support SB 277. At its March meeting, the Legislative Action Committee as part of our decision-making process further considered the input of our members, including those who wish to retain the personal-belief vaccine exemption. We also were informed by the statement issued by Rob Ring, chief science officer for Autism Speaks: "Over the last two decades, extensive research has asked whether there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism. The results of this research are clear: Vaccines do not cause autism. We urge that all children be fully vaccinated."
Why is it important for all medically eligible children to be fully vaccinated?
If 96 percent or more of our population is vaccinated against communicable diseases, the small portion of people who medically cannot be vaccinated are protected. Children who are immunocompromised and cannot be vaccinated are extremely vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases and suffer a greater chance of dying than the general population. It is our duty as a community to protect these children in school. Others such as infants and adults who are immunocompromised are also at risk.
In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the Unites States but not globally. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been more cases of measles in January 2015 than in any one month in the past 20 years. Since 2000, the number of families requesting personal-belief exemptions for children entering kindergarten in California has risen from .7 percent to 2.6 percent, resulting in some kindergarten classes with vaccination rates of under 80 percent. This is well below the threshold to protect medically vulnerable children.
Learn more about this once-eliminated childhood disease:
For more on SB 277, please contact Health Advocate Cathy Hall at chall@capta.org or Director of Legislation Kathy Moffat at legislation@capta.org. To learn more about healthcare and immunizations, visit capta.org. Stay tuned for more information on how you can take action to help support SB 277.
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