Marin Dad, 21,000 Petition Signatures Head To Sacramento To Demand Mandatory Measles Vaccines
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) - A Marin dad is among parents due to deliver more than 21,000 signatures demanding mandatory measles vaccines in California public schools.
The signature drive, through MoveOn.org, calls for an end to the personal belief exemptions or PBEs allowing parents to opt-out without a valid medical reason.
"We are petitioning the California State Government to make vaccines mandatory for all K-12 California school children, except for those with specific medical conditions. We would also require all California K-12 schools to publish the current percentage vaccinated rate of all enrolled students," reads the online campaign.
Carl Krawitt, father of 7-year-old cancer survivor Rhett Krawitt, was expected to speak as more than 21,000 petition signatures were delivered to the California State House, California State Senate, and Governor Jerry Brown to demand the change.
VACCINATION RATES: All 2014-15 Kindergarten Classes
LATEST CASES: CA Public Health Tracking
After years of fighting leukemia, Rhett's immune system can't handle a measles vaccine. He's relying on all his schoolmates at Reed Elementary in Tiburon to get immunized to keep him from contracting measles. But Marin County has the highest opt out rate for immunization in the Bay Area, and one of the highest in the state. They're now asking that classmates be formally required to get the vaccine. Rhett even recorded a video message in support of the campaign.
He had previously spoken at school board meeting in Tiburon about the need for a ban.