California is moving to end most vaccination opt-outs

A California child gets vaccinated before starting school — (Image credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

California's worst measles outbreak since 2000 has Golden State lawmakers rethinking their state's vaccine waiver policy. Five lawmakers are introducing legislation that would end religious and personal-belief exemptions for children entering school, letting parents opt-out of vaccinating their kids only for medical reasons. Gov. Jerry Brown (D), who signed a law in 2012 preserving religious exemptions for vaccines, said through a spokesman that because "vaccinations are profoundly important and a major public health benefit... any bill that reaches his desk will be closely considered."

All but 16 of the 119 cases of measles linked to Disneyland are in California. According to public health records, 13,592 California kindergarteners are unvaccinated due to their parents personal beliefs, while 2,764 are covered by religious belief waivers.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.