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UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

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“Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982.”

Deseret News, Thursday, January 31, 2002

House OKs plan for hassle-free shot exemptions

Parents wouldn’t have to talk with health officials

By Bob Bernick Jr.

Deseret News political editor

Parents should be able to enroll their children in public schools without health department officials giving their OK to immunization waivers, a majority of the Utah House said.

Representatives, after a long debate, passed Rep. Becky Lockhart’s HB243.  Some of those voting “no” said the number of non-immunized children may rise and children who do get shots for communicable diseases could be at greater risk of sick children through the change.

Lockhart, R-Orem, said she personally believes in immunization and her children have had the required number of shots. “But there are people who don’t, and I believe it is their right to make that decision,” she said.

Currently, there are three exemptions to immunizations required of children entering and continuing in public schools: medical, religious and personal.  If the parent chooses the personal exemption, they must have their waiver signature witnessed by a county or city health official.

That means taking the immunization form to your local health department “where they often get a guilt trip” put on them by a health worker who lectures them on the dangers of not immunizing a child.

“I oppose this bill,” said Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake. “I have the concerns of the school districts  that this (change) will be an excuse, an easy way out” for negligent parents.

“This change is not just an impact on one child or one family. Immunization impacts the health of all children surrounding (the non-immunized) child in that school. By going to the health department, you make sure they are making an educated decision.”

Lockhart said she believes nearly all parents who do not immunize their children have studied the issue and make an informed choice.

She doesn’t accept the argument put forward by some that “lazy” parents who show up on registration day, who forget their immunization records or who forget to get their child’s shots, will just pick the personal exemption option.

Single, working moms in rural Utah may have to take a day off from work just to drive to their local health departments, she said. In urban, crowded schools, a same-day trip to the health department to get the signature witnessed could mean by the time the mom and child gets back to school, the junior high or high school classes the child wants are already full.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.