Friends and neighbors,
A bill moving through the Senate this year would effectively eliminate the vaccine conscientious objection policy for daycare centers.
Senate File 610 would allow childcare providers to adopt policies prohibiting enrollment, or continued enrollment, of children over 2 months old who are not fully vaccinated. The bill removes the exemption for personal/conscientiously held beliefs; only medical exemptions would be allowed.
In layman’s terms, a conscientious objection means a parent can choose not to vaccinate their child for reasons of conscience or personal belief – not necessarily based on medical issues or allergies.
Allowing conscientious objections for vaccines is important for several reasons. First, it solidifies our personal freedom of choice. Getting vaccinated is a medical decision that each person should make according to their own values and beliefs. A conscientious objection policy recognizes that individuals have the right to control what happens to their own bodies.
Second, it affirms the diverse perspectives in our society. Our country and our state are made up of people with different cultural, ethical, and religious backgrounds – backgrounds that are key to their views on a wide range of issues, including vaccines. An objection policy is accepting of those with minority viewpoints so they are not marginalized.
There is a third reason that is not talked about as much: sometimes doctors will not provide a medical exemption even when the need exists. I have had this happen to me on several occasions, and I am far from a unique case.
I am allergic to certain vaccine ingredients, but pharmaceutical companies often refuse to share the ingredients of their vaccines because it is proprietary information. That means recipients like me are unable to make an informed decision. We can ask doctors for a medical exemption, but they are not required to provide one. I have been denied medical exemptions in the past, and have used a conscientious objection to protect my health.
Conscientious objections are an important policy that helps people protect their health and respects their individual rights. We should keep it in place.
Sincerely,