Federal California judge, Dana Sabraw, denied the blocking of the California vaccination law that bans unvaccinated children from attending public or private schools.
A new school year is starting across the country, and as kids are getting ready to go back to their routine, 17 California families are protesting against a law that prohibits their children to attend school or daycare since they are not vaccinated. Judge Sabraw passed a law that went into effect on July 1st, which eliminated vaccination exemptions when religious or personal beliefs are in the way.
“Case law makes clear that states may impose mandatory vaccination requirements without providing for religious or conscientious objections,” Sabraw wrote in his ruling.
Vaccination is mandatory
According to the United States federal government, all 50 states require kids to have vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, and rubella, all of the states also allow medical exemptions for children who can’t be vaccinated for age or health reasons.
However, only 47 states in the country allow vaccination exemptions for religious reasons, and 17 states view personal beliefs as a valid exemption for children’s treatment. Recently Judge Sabraw ensured all Californian children should be vaccinated to enroll in a new school year, parents who refuse to vaccinate their pupils must homeschool them.
For example, Alabama and Alaska allow medical and religious exemptions but prohibit philosophical reasons. Colorado and Idaho, on the other hand, finds all reasons valid for vaccination exemption.
Recently Judge Sabraw ensured all Californian children should be vaccinated to enroll in a new school year, parents who refuse to vaccinate their pupils must homeschool them. Sabraw’s ruling comes after a massive measles outbreak that took place in California’s Disneyland on 2014.
The outbreak resulted in over 147 sickened people including young children that couldn’t be treated at the moment. Several families have shown their disapproval for the new law, ensuring that the judge’s decision violates every child’s right to an education. The judge affirms the right of the state to protect citizens and especially young children.
Last month the suing families asked the court for an injunction on the law, but Sabraw denied the pledge and said that the U.S. Court has a long history of requiring mandatory vaccinations for children before entering a school year.
“In this case, plaintiffs have not made a showing that they are entitled to the extraordinary remedy of a preliminary injunction,” wrote Sabraw on the ruling.
Attorney’s on the case have stated the lawsuit could take over two years to end and that it is most likely for it to get appealed.
For over a decade parents have avoided vaccinating their children for religious and personal beliefs. The main reason is the concern, most parents avoiding vaccination think their children’s immune system will be affected by the preventive medicines or the kid is still too young to receive shots.
Other personal reasons include concerns over toxins that might be contained in the vaccines like formaldehyde, antifreeze, aluminum or mercury. However, science has proven that creating antibodies with vaccines helps keep kids protected against malicious diseases. Meanwhile, the 17 Californian families are waiting for a response to the lawsuit against the sate of California and the strict vaccination law.
Source: Reuters