Hartford, Conn. WTIC)-A marathon session before the legislature's Public Health Committee is hearing testimony regarding a measure to consider religious and non-medical exemptions for vaccine requirements.
Oppnents argue their rights to refuse the vaccines are guaranteed under the Constitution and that their religious preferences are also protected. They also say families with auto-immune diseases are more susceptible harm from the vaccines. Medical exemptions are also not an option because Doctors are reluctant, fearing legal reprisal.
Proponents of the measure say vaccinations have been in place more than six decades. They say the vaccines are safe and protect their children from illnesses like polio, the measles. chickenpox and the mumps. They also feel that the vaccines are most effective with herd immuity, stressing the need for full compliance.
The 24-hour public hearing runs through Wednesday morning. Nearly two-thousand signed up to testify.
Some lawmakers oppose the 24-hour time limit as shutting people out of the process.
But the counter-argument is people have the right to submit written testimony.
