Vaccine Exemptions in Northeast States
Three Northeast states have banned religious exemptions for vaccines. In Massachusetts, proposed legislation aims to prevent parents from claiming religious reasons for skipping vaccination.
In Maine, a law signed by Janet Mills in 2019 tightened rules for vaccinating students. Northe Saunders, now president of American Families for Vaccines, captured the moment his daughter celebrated the law's passage.
“It’s wonderful now to think about her being involved that day when the law passed in Maine, and now sending her off to school every day,”
said Saunders. Maine's policy has shown a dramatic effect, with a record high immunization rate of over 97% of schoolchildren.
Author's summary: Northeast states tighten vaccine exemption laws.