A legislative committee is considering several bills that would change the state's policy on vaccines. One bill, LD 606, would eliminate the philosophical exemption to opt out of vaccines. Another bill, LD 471, would require parents to receive vaccine counseling from a doctor before opting out.
Rep. Linda Sanborn, D-Gorham, sponsored LD 471 because she said it strikes a compromise between the right to choose and the importance of public health.
"There is a lot of talk from celebrities about the risks [of vaccines], and a lot of that is unfounded," said Sanborn. "But that is the reason for the bill -- to make sure people are not responding to pseudo-science."
The vaccine debate drew a man from a famous family: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nephew of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy told Maine lawmakers he is not anti-vaccine, but anti-CDC. Calling the agency a "cesspool of corruption," he urged lawmakers to protect a parents' right to choose, because he said the CDC cannot be trusted to make the best recommendations.
"Doctors looks at the CDC and say that's an agency that's concerned with public health, and public health only," Kennedy told NECN. "That's a real mistake."
Kennedy said there is evidence that certain vaccines can cause neurological damage to children, and many parents testified that they have seen those health concerns in their children.
"Maybe not every case of autism is linked to vaccinations, but [my son's] is," said parent Jodi Stebbens.
She said her son started exhibiting symptoms of autism just two days after receiving vaccines at the age of 2.
"I don't care if there's a scientific link that a bunch of bureaucratic scientists can connect to these vaccinations," said Stebbens. "I watched it with my own eyes happen to my baby."
But many others, including doctors, testified in favor of the vaccination bills.
"I'm confident in saying immunization does not cause autism," said Dr. Lisa Ryan, President of the Maine Medical Association.
Mother Jeri Greenwell told the committee that her son died of meningitis -- a death preventable by vaccine.
"Please take action now, and spare other families from experiencing this tragedy," said Greenwell.
It is unclear if the bills will clear the committee and head to the House or Senate. In written testimony, Gov. Paul LePage said he supports the philosophical examination, and thinks parents should be able to choose if their children are vaccinated.
Story shared from the pages of WCSH6 News http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/local/2015/05/10/debate-over-vaccine-exemptions-comes-roaring-through-maine/27084945/
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