Ohio House Passes Legislation Requiring Immunizations

COLUMBUS—State Representative Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) today applauded the passage of House Bill 536 by the Ohio House of Representatives. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Smith, requires children enrolled in a licensed child care facility to be immunized against defined diseases.

The bipartisan legislation stipulates that the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in a child day-care center or family day-care home must present written proof of his or her immunizations no later than thirty days after registration. Such diseases include chicken pox, measles, mumps, and many others.

Furthermore, H.B. 536 provides particular exceptions to the immunizations rule. A caretaker does not have to show evidence of the child’s vaccinations if the following circumstances apply:

The vaccination is medically contraindicated, or inappropriate for the particular child’s health needs;
Reasons of conscience or religious beliefs;
The immunization is unsuitable for the child’s age.

“The recent outbreak of mumps in central Ohio was certainly an impetus behind this legislation,” said Rep. Smith. “Children are highly susceptible to such contagious diseases, and in order to better protect the greater public health, children who attend a licensed day-care center should be immunized against them.”

House Bill 536 received bipartisan and unanimous support and now heads to the Ohio Senate to await consideration.