California Students Face New Vaccination Requirements
ELK GROVE (CBS13) — School is just days away for many students, but some won't be allowed in without proof of vaccination under a new law.
Senate Bill 277 was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, and there's one local school district making sure families can afford the vaccination requirement.
The free immunization is planned at the Elk Grove Unified School District, and school officials are hoping the parking lot is filled with families in need.
Ashi Chui has a child on the way and is glad that nearly every child in California must be immunized before walking into a private school or even a daycare center.
The vaccination debate was pushed to the forefront in 2014 after a measles outbreak linked to Disneyland sickened more than 100 people. SB277 became a lightning rod for those opposed to vaccines.
The new law went into effect last month, so now school officials in Elk Grove want to make sure all families can afford to vaccinate.
The free vaccinations for families are available to those with no health insurance or insurance that does not cover vaccines, are Medi-Cal eligible, or an American Indian or Alaskan native.