Calif. Senators To Introduce Bill Proposing Changes To Measles Vaccinations

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —A local state senator plans to introduce a bill Wednesday that will propose changes to California's vaccination requirements in the wake of the measles outbreak.

Senators Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician by trade, and Ben Allen, the former board president of the Santa Monica- Malibu Unified School District,  have yet to discuss the changes outlined in their bill.

The landmark legislation will be introduced at State Capitol in Sacramento at 11 a.m.

Current California law allows parents to skip vaccinating their children under what is called a personal belief exemption. Parents who oppose vaccines must receive information by a health professional, unless their decision is based on religious belief.

More than 13,000 kindergartners are not vaccinated, according to published reports.

"Unfortunately the myths about the association between vaccination and autism persists," LA County DPH's Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser said. "It's very important for people to know that there have been many scientific studies since that have completely shown that there is no association between autism and vaccinations."

The vaccine, which prevents measles, mumps and rubella, is 99 percent effective, but 1 percent of those who are immunized can still get sick, health officials have said.

The Los Angeles Department of Public Health Wednesday morning will also give the public an update on the measles outbreak, which has been linked to Disneyland.

As of Tuesday, California had 93 confirmed cases, including 28 in Orange County, 25 in LA County, five in Riverside County, six in San Bernardino County and seven in Ventura County.

There have been no reports of any measles cases in the LA Unified School District. However, officials have reported two cases in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School district that forced the closure of a day care center on the campus of Santa Monica High School.

The outbreak, which has affected 102 people nationwide, stems from an infected visitor to Disney theme parks in Anaheim in mid-December.

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