House members diluted a mandatory child immunization bill Monday and then passed it to the Senate. Clearly, some heavy lobbying took place over the weekend, for House members Friday killed a substantial amendment to the bill only to pass the same amendment Monday.
HB9 originally amended current immunization law, removing the provision allowing parents who had strong personal belief against immunization from getting their children certain shots before being allowed to register them in public schools. The bill kept in the current exemptions for medical or religious reasons.But the provision for strong personal belief was placed back in the bill Monday. However, where parents could before fill out the immunization exemption form at school when registering their child, under the bill parents would now have to go to the local health department and fill out the form there.
Supporters of the amendment - who said they believe strongly in "freedom of choice" for parents - said complicating the exemption process is important. They say many parents are just too lazy or cheap to take their kids for their shots, so they fill out the exemption form at the school.
Since low-cost shots are available at most health departments, forcing parents to go there for the forms will likely result in many more children being immunized. But the exemption is still there for the parent who really doesn't want his or her child to get shots.
Rep. Merrill Nelson, R-Grantsville, told how his 6-month-old boy was given the mandatory DPT shots and suffered a 45-minute seizure. Although a rare reaction to the shots, the boy now may have permanent damage because of it, doctors worry.