Physician voices are needed to speak out against concerning legislation aimed at weakening long-standing public health protections that help prevent disease outbreaks in our community. 

Ohio is one of 14 states that allows vaccine exemptions due to religious or conscientious reasons, along with medical exemptions that exist nationwide. House Bill 561, which was introduced in the fall and is now being considered by the House Health Committee, takes additional and extremely concerning steps. 

The legislation would: 

• Remove a requirement that the Hepatitis B vaccine be administered to children attending childcare or preschools, putting our children at risk for lifelong liver disease, liver cancer, and chronic infections. 
• Bar public schools from keeping out unvaccinated students if outbreaks of any disease occur, putting all students at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases, including those who are medically vulnerable and at a higher risk of serious complications. 
• Prohibit schools from requiring additional documentation for students to be considered exempt from vaccine requirements, causing inaccurate records and complicating the ability for schools and health department officials to respond quickly when there is a disease outbreak to protect others.  

These proposed changes would increase preventable disease risk across our state, where we are already are experiencing worrying outbreaks in majority unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals. It would be easier than ever for parents to decide against vaccinating their children based on myths and misinformation and without consulting with their trusted physician.  

That’s why we joined a coalition of other public health advocates urging members of the House Health Committee to vote against this harmful measure, stating that we all “respect parental choice and support transparency. However, opting out of vaccination should be a deliberate, informed decision and not the path of least resistance.” 

House Bill 561 had its first hearing in the House Health Committee on February 4 and a second this week, on Wednesday, March 18.  

Call to Action 

You can help speak out against this harmful legislation by contacting members of the House Health Committee. Please call and email members right away and share your expertise to urge them to vote against House Bill 561. 

Thank you, 

Bill Cotton, MD, FAAP 

Co-Chair, CMA Public Policy Committee