<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Letter: Reduce opt-out exemptions

The Columbian
Published: February 19, 2015, 12:00am

The Washington state House is considering legislation that would end the “philosophical” personal belief exemption for immunizing children but keep the exemptions for both religious and medical reasons. If the House bill is passed with those conditions, I believe it will have been a waste of legislators’ time and our money.

I am willing to bet that the anti-immunization people who are presently allowed to opt out for personal belief reasons will suddenly “find religion” and use that to exempt their kids from getting vaccine shots.

If the state is serious about protecting the children who are too young to get themselves immunized from diseases like measles, it needs to get tough and eliminate all but the medical exemption.

Immunization has been proven to be an effective means of disease control. For the children’s sakes, I believe we should make this the top consideration, not people’s personal preferences.

Douglas Gilson

Washougal

We encourage readers to express their views about public issues. Letters to the editor are subject to editing for brevity and clarity. Limit letters to 200 words (100 words if endorsing or opposing a political candidate or ballot measure) and allow 30 days between submissions. Send Us a Letter
Loading...