NJ Committee Rejects Vaccination Exemption Bill
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Legislation to allow parents in New Jersey to claim a conscientious objection to their children getting vaccinated has died in committee.
Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee chairman Herb Conway said it's a "recipe for disaster." The Burlington County Democrat, who also is a physician, said it could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases.
Conway said he might be willing to revisit the issue in the future.
Some parents were concerned vaccines may cause long-term neurological damage. Parents in New Jersey can claim medical or religious exemptions from vaccines.
The Statehouse bureau of The Star-Ledger of Newark and The Record reports the number claiming the religious exemption has increased from 452 in the 2005-06 school year to 3,865 in 2009-2010.
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