MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Legislation that would eliminate the option for Vermont parents to opt out of vaccinations for their kids on philosophical grounds is losing steam at the Statehouse.
"There's been a huge push back by the public on removing the philosophical exemption," said Sen. Kevin Mullen, R-Rutland County.
Mullin is backing the bill, hoping it would help boost vaccination rates. They've dropped with Vermont's kindergartners from 93 to 83 percent since 2006.
"People have to realize that when they make a decision not to have a vaccine that they are not just impacting themselves, they're impacting the larger community," Mullin said.
That may be true but some lawmakers and parents agree it's not the state's place to tell parents what to do. Donna Sweeney of Colchester supports vaccinations, but says they're not for lawmakers to require.
"I think as a parent you have the right to decide about your children and read up on it, or whatever you need to do, but I believe it's the parents' decision, not the government's," Sweeney said.
Wednesday, Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Harry Chen shared a possible compromise with the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. It would allow for philosophical exemptions, but would require parents to weigh the pros and cons with their doctor first and then fill out a form.
"From a public health perspective is it smart to be compromising when it comes to issues of public health? Again, as I said, the public health implications are clear. The policy decision is one the Legislature will have to make. I am absolutely in favor for moving that exemption. I understand that that may not be a real-world view and possible, so I have to look at what the alternatives are," Chen said.
A reality the bill's sponsor is coming to terms with, too.
"I wish we'd honestly won the bigger battle, but it was clear we are not going to get the votes in the Legislature to do that," Mullin said.
Senators will review the commissioner's proposal later this week.
Chen says Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont, is not traditionally a fan of mandates. He says Shumlin will let the legislative process play itself out in the vaccination debate.
