Recently, the California Senate voted in favor of SB 277, a bill that would eliminate all personal belief exemptions to vaccination. Under this law, the only way for a child to attend public school without being vaccinated would be through a very difficult-to-get medical waiver. 

The State Assembly and the Office of the Governor need to face the facts: vaccines are not 100% safe -- nor are they guaranteed to stop diseases. From 2005 to 2014, no child in America died from measles, yet 108 babies died from the MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) vaccine. Recent testimony from a CDC whistleblower suggests a longstanding attempt by the CDC to cover up any adverse data on the safety of the MMR.

Other experts believe the overloading of a young immune system with so many vaccines at once can cause genetic changes. Some generally support vaccinations but wish there were more scientific clarity.

We need to keep information clear, unambiguous, and uncensored, and to allow people to make informed choices for themselves and their families -- especially when so much information and evidence exists of the possible dangers posed by some vaccines.

Parents have a right to make their own decisions about treatments for their children based on informed consent. Limiting a patient's ability to make informed decisions about what gets put into his or her body violates medical ethics.

The bill’s next stop is the Assembly. It is imperative that we kill this as soon as possible. The more success this bill has as it winds its way through California’s legislative process, the more proponents of similar legislation in other states will be emboldened to continue their efforts to needlessly force vaccinations on our children.

Urge your representative in the State Assembly and Governor Brown to oppose SB 277 and any other legislation that would remove vaccine exemptions.