New Texas bill would create easier path for vaccine exemptions in public schools
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FOX NEWS - Getting vaccine exemptions may now be easier for residents in Texas, after a new bill was filed in the Texas House of Representatives. Representative Matt Krause filed House Bill 1490 on Feb. 7, which would change how people file vaccine exemptions. The goal would be to make it easier to claim an exemption from required immunizations for public school students.
The bill would stop the Texas Department of State Health Services from maintaining a record of those vaccine exemptions, reported fox4news. When passed, it will be more difficult to find the number of affidavit forms submitted, if a potential outbreak was caused by an unvaccinated child.
The Texas Health and Safety Code states: “The department shall maintain a record of the total number of affidavit forms sent out each year and shall report that information to the legislature each year.” Bill 1490 would also make it easier for people to get vaccine exemption forms.
Currently, to get a vaccine exemption, Texans have to submit a written request to the health department. If the bill gets passed, those same forms would be available online, carving an easier path towards getting an exemption.
Read more on FOX NEWS.
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