Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Hundreds testify against bills that would give Connecticut DPH commissioner unilateral vaccine authority
Summary
At a lengthy Public Health Committee hearing in Hartford, hundreds of residents, parents and health workers testified largely in opposition to SB 450 and HB 5044, arguing the bills would remove oversight of vaccine scheduling, concentrate power in one unelected official and strip religious‑exemption protections.
Hundreds of residents and several health professionals testified late into the night before the Public Health Committee in Hartford, urging lawmakers to reject SB 450 and HB 5044 on the grounds that the measures would shift vaccine‑policy authority to a single, unelected official and remove longstanding religious‑exemption protections.
Supporters and opponents alike described emotionally charged personal experiences and competing views of public health. "Removing a bipartisan regulatory review committee and leaving the power to change the vaccine schedule in the hands of 1 unelected official is not the action of a democratic government," said Kristen Figby, a West Hartford resident who testified against the bills. Proponents such as…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
