Some parents in Wisconsin are pushing hard against new rules that would require more vaccinations before their children can attend school in Wisconsin.
A number of anti-vaccine parents turned out for a public hearing Tuesday at the Wisconsin Capitol on proposed rule changes for the state.
Specifically the new rules would change the definition of a “substantial outbreak” to include chicken pox and meningitis. The rules would require that all kids in Wisconsin receive a meningitis vaccine before seventh grade, and require a booster for seniors in high school. The proposed rule change would also require parents to get a doctor to confirm that their children have had the Chickenpox, and keep children who are not vaccinated against Chickenpox home in some cases.
“I am against any legislation that mandates a vaccine. I’m not anti-vaccine, I am for vaccine safety,” mom Tammy Goldstein told lawmakers.
Goldstein said her daughter was injured by a vaccine, and she now works with other parents to push-back on vaccine requirements.
“I am seeing over and over and over parents not being given informed information, not getting all of the facts, having no option to opt-out, and their children excluded,” Goldstein said.
She was one of several moms and parent groups to oppose the new rules.
Doctors, however, told lawmakers that Wisconsin is behind the times with its vaccine rules. They reiterated that vaccines are safe.
“Immunizations are a safe, evidence-based lifesaving way to prevent the spread of disease,” Dr. Theresa Dulksi with UW Health told lawmakers. “All children in Wisconsin deserve an equal opportunity to be protected from immunization-preventable diseases.”
Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services say most of Wisconsin’s neighboring states already have similar rules for vaccines.
Lawmakers will have to either approve the rules as-is, or vote them down in their entirety. There could be a chance to change some of the proposals in the future, but there is no way lawmakers can approve just some of the rule changes.
