Doctors, parents clash as Massachusetts committee reconsiders removing religious vaccine exemptions

The Joint Committee on Public Health heard hours of testimony on bills H2554 and S1557, measures that would eliminate nonmedical (religious) exemptions to school vaccine requirements in Massachusetts.

Supporters, including pediatricians and public-health researchers, told the committee that the state’s high statewide vaccination rates mask local gaps and that removing nonmedical exemptions would raise coverage where it is lowest. Dr. Mary Beth Miyoto of Mattapan Community Health Center said local declines, not statewide averages, matter: "Five of our 14 counties fell below the 95 percent immunization threshold needed to prevent measles," she said, and cited kindergarten classrooms that have fallen below herd-immunity targets. Boston University public-health researcher Dr. Matt Mata said evidence from other states shows that removing…