CLAIMING RELIGIOUS
EXEMPTIONS TO GETTING CHILDREN
VACCINATED.
>> I’M VERY UPSET.
I AM A MOM AND I’M HERE
ADVOCATING FOR MY CHILD.
REPORTER CANDACE AND ALLISON
HAVE COME TO BEACON HILL TO
EDUCATE.
THERE ARE MOMS WHO SAY THEIR
CHILDREN’S LIVES HAVE BEEN
FOREVER ALTERED BY SERIOUS
REACTIONS TO VACCINES.
>> MY SON IS 20.
IF THIS PASSES, HE WON’T EVEN BE
ABLE TO BE IN A DAY PROGRAM FOR
OLDER ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
REPORTER ALMOST 80% OF
MASSACHUSETTS PARENTS WHO CHOOSE
NOT TO GET THEIR CHILDREN’S
VACCINATED DO SO FOR RELIGIOUS
REASONS.
 100% INCREASE IN RELIGIOUS
EXEMPTIONS SINCE THE 1980’S, IT
IS KIND OF INTERESTING TO NOTE
THAT RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS HAVE
BEEN DECLINING AT THE SAME TIM
IT IS ALMOST A VIOLATION OF THE
SPIRIT OF THE LAW.
REPORTER THESE MOMS ARGUE ONLY
ABOUT 1.4% OF CHILDREN’S ARE
OPTING OUT AND THEY NEED
OPTIONS.
THE STATES OVERALL RATE OF
VACCINATION IS ROUGHLY 95%,
AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION.
A RESURGENCE OF DISEASES LIKE
MEASLES HAS LAWMAKERS
QUESTIONING IF IT IS TIME TO DO
MORE.
>> MASSACHUSETTS FOR DECADES HAS
SUCCESSFULLY BALANCED PUBLIC
HEALTH AND RELIGIOUS RIGHTS.
WE HAVE THAT BALANCE RIGHT NOW.
REPORTER: THAT BILL IS CURRENTL
IN COMMITTEE.
IT COULD COME UP FOR DEBATE AS
EARLY AS N
