Gwendolyn Gladstone

As a pediatrician with decades of experience, I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of almost every vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccines are the safest, most cost-effective way we have of protecting not just individuals but the health of the entire population. Repealing existing vaccine requirements is poor medical, economic and moral decision-making. Please do not let us revert to earlier times when people suffered and died as a result of diseases that we have the ability to limit. This bill would allow anyone to claim a religious belief against vaccines, even though no major religion does that. People wanting to avoid vaccinations would use this bill to hide behind "religion" as a way to refuse to follow vital public health requirements. This would harm the entire population.