I don’t mean to be a buzz-kill, truly I don’t. It’s just that I made this pact with myself, on behalf of the wellbeing of mothers and babies: I decided a few years back to run this not-so-celebratory article every year on America’s birthday, as long as our country continues to show up so poorly in world rankings on maternal health. I’ll get to that in a moment, but first some breaking news. (Settle in, grab a cuppa, this is long… or should I say in more inviting terms, epic. This really is historic, and it deserves all the words it takes.)
Vaccination Nation?
California this week passed SB 277 and Governor Brown signed it into law, eliminating vaccine exemptions for philosophical, religious or medical beliefs. Under this law, parents are required to fully vaccinate their children for them to be eligible for public school admittance. The one exception is having a doctor’s note. (This strikes me as a loophole that may end up blowing back on progressive doctors; I’m envisioning waiting rooms overflowing with parents clamoring for the coveted Doctor’s Note.)
Tags: birth, Governor Brown, SB 277, vaccination, vaccines
Wonderful article Marcy – thanks for writing this in such a un-emotional and objective way. We have a 21/2 year old and we’re dreading what may lie ahead for us with schooling options.
Quentin Hafner, LMFT
Couples Therapist @ http://www.QuentinHafner.com
Oh, do I feel ya, Quentin! The single most daunting section of my book to write was the part about schooling. When I finished that 15ish-page passage that boils down “where we are and how / why we got here” I was unspeakably happy & relieved. I still remember that day vividly!! That section begins on pg. 335 in the book, nudge-nudge. 😉