New York and Maine passed new vaccine laws in 2019.
They join California, Mississippi, and West Virginia as the only states that do not allow either religious or personal belief vaccine exemptions.
Washington also passed a law removing non-medical vaccine exemptions in 2019, but only for the MMR vaccine. And New Jersey passed a law mandating meningococcal vaccines for college students, something that is still only required in fewer than half of states.
New Vaccine Bills and Laws in 2020
So what can we expect in 2020?
Remember, it was a record setting year for measles in the United States. The worst since 1992…
Surprisingly, in addition to some bills calling for stronger vaccine protections, there are others trying to weaken existing laws!
Yes, in South Dakota, someone is actually proposing that they do away with school vaccine requirements!
Fortunately, most vaccine bills in the rest of the country would actually help protect our kids from vaccine-preventable diseases.
- HB 103 in Alabama would require health care providers to report and check the state immunization registry before giving a vaccine
- HB 2429 in Arizona would require that schools post immunization rates for their students on their websites
- SB 163 in Colorado would create a standardized vaccine exemption form and require parents to complete an online education module before obtaining a non-medical exemption
- HB 5044 in Connecticut would require insurance companies to cover a 20 minute consultant about vaccines
- HB 5044 in Connecticut would strengthen medical exemptions and eliminate religious exemptions to school immunization requirements.
- DC B23-0171 in the District of Columbia, the Minor Consent for Vaccinations Amendment Act of 2019, would allow a minor to be vaccinated if they “comprehend the need for, the nature of, and any significant risks inherent” to getting their vaccines.
- HB 825 in Florida would allow pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to kids who are at least 7 years old – a watered down version of the original bill that would have allowed pharmacists to give any vaccine to children
- SB 64 in Florida would eliminate religious exemptions to vaccine requirements to attend school and create a medical exemption review panel to review all medical exemptions
- SB 674 in Florida would require a minimum percentage of children in child care facilities to be vaccinated
- HB 615 in Georgia would allow minors who are at least 16 years old to be vaccinated without parental consent.
- SB 3668 in Illinois would eliminate religious exemptions for vaccines and allow minors who are at least 14 years old to be vaccinated without parental consent
- HB 4870 in Illinois would require HPV vaccines for students entering 6th grade.
- HF 206 in Iowa would eliminate religious exemptions for vaccines to attend school
- HB 87 in Maryland would allow mature minors who are at least 16 years old to be vaccinated.
- H.3999 in Massachusetts would eliminate religious exemptions for vaccines to attend school
- H.4096/S.2359 in Massachusetts would standardize immunization requirements and the exemption processes and give the Department of Public Health authority to collect immunization data statewide.
- S.1264 in Massachusetts would add the HPV vaccine to the vaccines required to attend school
- HB 4610 in Michigan would require schools to post signs if more than 5% of students in a school aren’t vaccinated
- HB 1581 in Missouri would allow a minor to get vaccinated, without needing a parent to give consent.
- S902 and A969 in New Jersey would only allow medical exemptions and if a sibling had a vaccine injury
- S1013/A2673 in New Jersey would create a public awareness campaign concerning the importance of getting vaccinated and protected.
- A1603 in New Jersey would require HPV vaccines for kids in middle and high school.
- S4244/A6564 in New York would allow minors who are at least 14 years old to be vaccinated without needing a parent to give consent
- S298/A2912 in New York would require HPV vaccines for kids born after January 1, 2009.
- HB 1771 in Pennsylvania would require parents seeking a religious or philosophical exemption to get an annual medical consultation to understand the existing threats to children’s health from communicable diseases, and to get briefed on potentials for school exclusion and quarantine, in the case of outbreaks.
- SB 653 in Pennsylvania would eliminate religious exemptions for vaccines to attend school
- H 684/S 314 in Vermont would allow minors who are at least 12 years old to get the hepatitis B and HPV vaccines and preventative services for STIs without needing a parent to give consent
- H 622 in Vermont would suspend religious exemptions for vaccines if the immunizations in a school went below 95 percent.
- HB 1090 in Virginia would continue to allow non-medical exemptions, but would now mandate all of the vaccines on the current CDC immunization schedule, except the seasonal flu vaccine
- AB 863 in Wisconsin would allow minors who are at least 16 years old to be vaccinated without needing a parent to give consent
- AB 248/SB 262 in Wisconsin would eliminate personal belief exemptions for vaccinations
Don’t want to see any new vaccine laws or mandates in your area?
Stop spreading misinformation and propaganda about vaccines that scare parents away from vaccinating and protecting their kids. That’s what leads to lower immunization rates, which causes disease outbreaks, and gets you stronger vaccine laws.
Instead, be a vaccine advocate and make sure your state legislators know that you support strong vaccine laws that will keep us all protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, even as more and more folks try and abuse vaccine exemptions.
More on New Vaccine Bills and Laws
- A Guide to Evaluating Vaccine Information for Legislators
- A Legislative Guide to Advocating for Stronger Vaccine Laws
- How Can I Get Vaccinated If My Parents Are Anti-Vaccine?
- I’m Not Anti-Vaccine, I Just Don’t Believe in the HPV Vaccine
- Will a NY Law Make the HPV Vaccine Mandatory for Daycare?
- The History of Vaccine Exemptions
- Why Are States Eliminating Religious Exemptions for Immunizations?
- Responses to New Vaccine Laws
- Ask 8 Questions Before You Skip a Vaccine
- Anti-Vaccine Legislation Primer
- States With Religious and Philosophical Exemptions From School Immunization Requirements
- Public Weighs In On D.C. Age Requirement For Minors Wishing To Be Vaccinated
- Colorado governor says he’ll support new vaccine bill
- 25% Jump In Religious Exemptions To Vaccinations Over Past School Year
- Understanding Vaccine Science
- AAP – State Advocacy Focus
- Immunizations Policy Issues Overview
- Tips on Effective State Legislative Advocacy
- NMA Legislative Support