HARRISBURG, PA — State Sen. Daylin Leach commented on revisions to immunization regulations for school children and urged his colleagues to pass his bill to eliminate the statute allowing parents to exempt their school children from vaccination requirements for philosophical or religious reasons.

Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy and Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera on November 5 announced that regulations regarding vaccination requirements for school children are being revised in order to further protect students from illness.

Leach said, “Making sure as many children as possible are vaccinated is one of the best ways to prevent dangerous outbreaks.” In February, Leach introduced Senate Bill 696, which is designed to increase the number of Pennsylvania school children who are immunized against diseases that spread easily among groups, interrupt school life and threaten public health.

While Pennsylvania law requires that children receive certain vaccinations before they may attend school, exemptions exist for a pre-existing health issue, a religious objection, or “a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief.” Pennsylvania’s low vaccination rate is due, in part, to that exemption.