Vt. House debates childhood immunization law

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont House is continuing to discuss one of the most hotly debated issues of this year's legislative session: whether the state should continue to allow parents a "philosophical exemption" from the requirement that their children be immunized in order to attend school or child care.

The Senate passed a version of the bill that would end the philosophical exemption. A version of the bill approved by the House Health Care Committee would keep it, but an amendment to be offered during House debate on Thursday would follow the Senate and end the exemption.

Backers of doing so say vaccinations are an important public health measure, and that Vermont's vaccination rates are too low.

Critics of the change say parents should have a right to decide.