Amid concerns over “fake” exemptions, California is debating a bill that would make public health officials sign off on them like they do in other states. Doctors support the legislation, but the Democratic governor has criticized it.
By Mattie Quinn | Governing
Once declared eradicated by vaccines, measles cases have resurged to their highest level in nearly three decades, infecting more than 1,000 people this year across 28 states.
The outbreak has spurred some states to revisit their vaccine laws. Last month, Maine ended religious exemptions as a means of parents not vaccinating their children, making it the fourth state to ban all nonmedical exemptions. The three other states are California, Mississippi and West Virginia.
But Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom raised eyebrows this month when he suggested that he might not support the measure.
