Senate gives final passage to childhood vaccination bill

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut parents or guardians wishing to exempt their children from vaccinations based on religious reasons may be deterred by a bill that cleared the Senate Tuesday.

The bill, which passed 21-15, requires parents or guardians to present a notarized statement that an immunization would be contrary to the religious beliefs of their child. However, language in the bill allows the notary to be waived by the Commissioner of Public Health at the request of a parent or guardian.

Under the new legislation, such statements are subjected to annual submission and must be officially endorsed by a notary public, attorney, judge, family support magistrate, court clerk, deputy clerk, or justice of the peace.

This is an amendment to previous legislation, which did not obligate a notary.

See the complete story at CT News Junkie.