Vaccine critics protest student vaccine bill at state capitol

Hundreds of vaccine critics were out in force Wednesday at the state capitol fighting a bill that would force most kids to get immunized, if they want to go to school.
State lawmakers held a public hearing on the bill that would require students to be vaccinated to attend any school, including private schools, even if parents claim a religious objection.
State health officials at the hearing said Connecticut could face a measles outbreak if the state’s vaccine laws are not strengthened.
After all the parents get their say, the Public Health Committee will then decide whether to advance the bill to the full General Assembly.
If the bill passes, religious exemptions would go away this fall. However, the state public health commissioner says parents should have more time to adjust.
Gov. Ned Lamont issued a statement regarding the hearing. 
“It is more timely than ever that we have a thoughtful discussion on our state’s vaccination program so that we can keep our state’s residents safe and healthy," said Lamont. "When it comes to the health and safety of our kids, it is our responsibility to act out of an abundance of caution. Vaccinations are safe. They are the reason dangerous diseases disappeared for decades. It is no coincidence that with the rise of social media spreading a campaign of disinformation over the last several years that has been widely debunked by the medical community, we have seen a steady increase in the number of children whose parents refuse to protect them from preventable diseases.