U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw denied an injunction against the law, arguing that society has a “compelling interest in fighting the spread of contagious diseases through mandatory vaccination of school-age children,” according to the article.
Judge Sabraw also said an individual’s right to freedom of religion does not trump the state’s interest in maintaining the health and well-being of the public.
The law was prompted by a measles outbreak in 2014 and went into effect in July. Students with physician-certified medical exemptions and disabled students in individual education programs are exempt from complying. While the law requires all students to be vaccinated, parents are only responsible for providing a child’s immunization records when the student enters kindergarten or seventh grade.
Opponents of the law argue that 33,000 students whose parents oppose vaccinations will be denied enrollment ─ a right, opponents argue, that should be guaranteed, according to the article.
California is the third state, along with West Virginia and Mississippi, to implement such a law.
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