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Panel Backs Bill Aimed at Boosting Maine Vaccination Rates

By Alanna Durkin, The Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Maine - A legislative committee has endorsed a bill that seeks to increase vaccination rates in Maine.

The Health and Human Services Committee voted 9-3 in support of Democratic Rep. Linda Sanborn's bill on Friday. It would require parents to consult with their doctor and get a form signed if they wish to opt out for philosophical reasons.

The bill received broad support from members of Maine's medical community. But it has been fiercely opposed by some parents, who say that lawmakers are trying to make it harder for them to make medical decision about their children.

The committee unanimously rejected a measure that sought to remove the philosophical exemption. Another legislative panel rejected a bill Friday that sought to prohibit discrimination against people who choose not to be vaccinated.