JACKSON, Miss.- Representatives in the House held a heated debate on a bill that would allow children to be exempt from vaccinations per a doctor’s note.
Representative Formby presented the bill to the House with heated passion that they sympathize with parents who have children that could be harmed due to vaccinations required by school. He urged members to pass a bill that would allow for a doctor who has examined the child could request that they be exempt from vaccinations.
As he continued, tensions rose, and questions rose from other members regarding what constituted as an examination from the doctor, would this include doctors in state and out of state, would telemedicine services be considered for an examination.
Formby said that the bill would only enforce laws already in place. You can currently apply for a medical exemption through the State Department of Health if you wish to avoid vaccinations for your child.
Formby was then questioned by Rep. Blackmon on whether parents would be informed about children who attend their child’s school and are not vaccinated. Formby compared sharing that medical information with sharing the HIV status of students, it just wouldn’t happen.
After the questions were over Rep. Gipson shared a personal testimony about how not being vaccinated potentially saved his life after a bite from a fire ant.
Rep. Holland, who opposed the bill, said that Mississippi leads the nation in child vaccinations. He says this bill could hurt that record and be detrimental to schools by taking the State Health department out of these exemption decisions.
After nearly an hour long debate the bill passes 65-45. It will now be reviewed by the Senate.
