In 2005, Ohio ranked third in the nation in immunization rates before having opt outs for philosophical purposes, and in just 13 years, we now rank 39th. House Bill (HB) 559, sponsored by State Representatives Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville, OH) and Al Landis (R-Dover, OH), calls for a streamlined process on how data concerning immunization opt-out is handled and reported, for school-age children.
The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians strongly supports HB 559 and encourages OAFP members to contact their state representative asking for their support of HB 559.
Ohio has seen outbreaks of measles that were three times the size of the Disneyland outbreak, had the largest mumps outbreak in the country, and repeatedly sees new outbreaks of pertussis. Ohio can no longer afford to put the health of Ohio’s at-risk children in jeopardy by allowing its immunization rates to get worse. This bill allows us to work toward improving its rates and protecting Ohio’s children, while at the same time preserving the rights of parents to make decisions for their children.