California’s Vaccination Law is under fire as kids start heading back to school in the state. A federal judge in San Diego is weighing his option to put a temporary block on the law, as schools in Sacramento are increasing their efforts to vaccinate kindergartners and seventh graders. The effort is an attempt to ensure that the students will be able to attend class when the school session officially begins.
The law eliminates a parent’s right to exempt their children from getting the vaccinations.
U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw will announce his decision on August 22 whether or not to block Senate Bill 277 during the lawsuit. A group of 21 plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against the law.
School in Sacramento began last week, with many students missing their first week of school because they didn’t have the proper proof of vaccinations needed under the law. Numerous districts have yet to start school, with many districts opening their doors between August 18th and September 1st.
Senate Bill 277 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown last year. The signing marked the third state in the country to eliminate personal and religious belief from being allowed to exempt a child from vaccinations. The law went into effect on July 1.
Opponents to the law assert that the law infringes on parental rights while also depriving students of their constitutional right to an education.
Students entering kindergarten and seventh grade will be in checkpoint years where vaccinations are a condition for entering class.
The lawsuit claims that the law has caused damages to the 21 plaintiffs. The lead plaintiff, Ana Whitlow had her son refused from entering the seventh grade due to the new law. Her son was already immune to whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria, but was not allowed to begin the school year unless he received the vaccinations.
