New Hampshire House Rejects Bill to End All Vaccine Mandates
The New Hampshire House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a proposal to end all vaccine mandates in the state, voting 192-155 against House Bill 1811. The bill was sponsored by Manchester Republican Rep. Matt Drew, and 34 Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it.
During floor debate, Rep. Jessica LaMontagne, a Dover Democrat, warned against weakening vaccination requirements. “New Hampshire has the lowest vaccination rate for measles in New England,” she said. “Do you want to be the legislature that ushers in the next outbreak of measles?”
Despite the defeat of HB 1811, lawmakers have already approved other legislation impacting vaccine policy in the state. House Bill 1719, which targets only the hepatitis B vaccine, was approved by the House earlier this month and is now under consideration by the Senate. If passed, the hepatitis B vaccine would no longer be required for children attending school or childcare in New Hampshire.
Efforts to Ease Religious Exemptions
Several bills aim to simplify the process for obtaining religious exemptions to vaccination requirements. Current state policy requires parents to fill out a specific form from the Department of Health and Human Services to receive an exemption, a process some lawmakers believe is overly burdensome.
House Bill 1022, also sponsored by Rep. Drew, would replace the current form with a simple attestation: “I, (insert parent or legal guardian’s name), hereby attest that I sincerely hold religious beliefs and/or engage in religious practices or observances that dictate the refusal to accept the required vaccination(s). (Insert parent or legal guardian’s signature and date.)” This bill is scheduled for a vote by the House in the coming weeks.
Another bill, House Bill 1584, sponsored by Rep. Kelley Potenza, a Rochester Republican, would clarify in state law that parents are not required to complete any specific form and “may provide any written statement attesting to the religious exemption.” HB 1584 also mandates that any advertisements, website content, or printed materials promoting vaccines by the Department of Health and Human Services must include the text, “medical and religious exemptions are available under New Hampshire law.” HB 1584 has already been approved by the House and is being considered by the Senate.
Restrictions on Vaccine Advertising
House Bill 1616, which is awaiting a vote on the House floor, proposes to prohibit New Hampshire state agencies and political bodies from using public funds to advertise vaccines.
New Hampshire state law currently requires children to be immunized against hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, mumps, pertussis, rubella, rubeola, tetanus, varicella, and haemophilus influenzae type B before enrolling in school or childcare. Exemptions are granted for medical reasons, as determined by a doctor, and for families with sincerely held religious objections.
The passage of HB 1719, targeting the hepatitis B vaccine, and the ongoing debate over religious exemptions reflect a broader trend of rising vaccine skepticism across the country, highlighted by a recent measles outbreak in Texas.
