Legislation requires immunization for licensed day-care providers

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State Representative Tim Brown (R-Bowling Green) has cosponsored legislation that would require children
who are enrolled in licensed day-care centers to have recommended immunizations.
House Bill 536, introduced with bipartisan sponsorship, would require children to be vaccinated in
accordance with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children must be
vaccinated prior to entering kindergarten, but Ohio is the only state that does not mandate vaccines for
preschool and day care.
"There is nothing more important than ensuring the health and welfare of our children, especially
when they have been entrusted to a school or daycare facility. This bill will help bring Ohio in line
with the health standards already in place in 49 other states," Brown said.
State health officials have identified 68 cases of the measles, the most cases reported of any state
since 1996. Ohio accounts for 36 percent of reported measles cases nationwide in 2014, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The measles outbreak coincides with increasing diagnoses of
the mumps, which since Jan. 1 has climbed to 330 reported cases in 15 Ohio counties.
The bill soon will be reported to a House standing committee.

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