The Oklahoma Senate Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee reaffirmed his opposition to government-mandated vaccines today, and pledged to not hear legislation in committee that requires it.
“Although I have had my children vaccinated, and believe some vaccinations are true life-savers, I believe vaccinations work best when parents and communities are educated by health professionals, not the government, said Senator Rob Standridge, R-Norman.
Standridge said he released the statement prior to the next legislative session because of the growing concern over the issue.
“As chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, I refused to hear legislation last session mandating childhood vaccinations, and nothing has happened to cause me to reconsider,” he said.
Standridge, a pharmacist, said events across the country “have caused an increased awareness of vaccinations and the valuable role they play in protecting children from life-changing, or even life-ending, diseases.
“As a health professional, I encourage parents to vaccinate their children, but I stop short as a legislator in mandating them to do so.” Standridge also said in the letter that with health care being a major point of debate, “it is probably not the best time to put more pressure on the doctor-patient relationship, built on openness, trust and choice.”
Sen. Ervin Yen, R-Oklahoma City, a cardiac anesthesiologist, plans to file legislation next year that would remove the religious and philosophical exemption options allowed to parents in Oklahoma, one of only 18 states that allows for exemptions.
The article is erroneous in its statement of ” Oklahoma, one of only 18 states that allows for exemptions.” 47 US States allow for religious and or a philosophical vaccine exemptions.
“As a health professional, I encourage parents to vaccinate their children, but I stop short as a legislator in mandating them to do so.” Good point, Senator! Why don’t more legislators follow that, which I believe is fundamental to a democracy.