California Governor Not Supportive of Proposed Bill to Restrict Medical Doctors from Writing Vaccine Exemptions
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that California Governor Gavin Newsom has doubts about proposed bill SB 276, which would restrict medical doctors from writing vaccine exemptions and require all medical exemptions for vaccines to be approved by the state Department of Public Health. SB 276 recently passed the full Senate by a vote of 24 YES to 10 NO and the bill will now go to the California Assembly. The Chronicle is reporting that Governor Newsom supports the doctor-patient relationship more than "bureaucratic relationships." “I like doctor-patient relationships. Bureaucratic relationships are more challenging for me,” Newsom told reporters at the California Democratic Party convention in San Francisco. “I’m a parent. I don’t want someone that the governor appointed to make a decision for my family.” The Chronicle reports that while the Governor did not explicitly say he would veto SB276, he cast "serious doubts on its prospects should it reach his desk." “With respect, as a father of four that goes through this on a consistent basis, that’s just something we need to pause and think about,” Newsom said. “I believe in immunizations. However, I do legitimately have concerns about a bureaucrat making a decision that is very personal.”