The increase is the largest single-year jump in religious exemptions since the department began tracking the data a decade ago.
Vaccines
Posted inHealth
Public health commissioner won’t release school-by-school vaccination data
The decision to withhold the data comes after calls for transparency from lawmakers who say parents should have access to the information as the school year begins.
Posted inHealth
Lawyer for Bristol couple’s vaccine lawsuit: Data release is ‘invasion of privacy’
A lawyer for a Bristol couple suing to block the release of Connecticut school-by-school immunization data argues in court papers that distributing the information amounts to an “invasion of privacy” for families with unvaccinated children, even though no students would be identified.
Posted inHealth
Education group: Repeal the religious exemption from vaccination
Connecticut’s religious exemption from vaccinating school children should be repealed and state Health Commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell must be free to weigh in on the issue, the head of an education reform advocacy group said Monday.
Posted inHealth
Health officials share concerns over religious exemption to vaccines
The Department of Public Health continues to refuse to offer an opinion on whether politicians should wipe out the religious exemption to vaccines.
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Republican lawmakers ask health commissioner not to offer opinion on vaccine exemption repeal
The lawmakers sent a letter to Commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell saying it would be improper for her to offer an opinion on the issue.
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In quest to repeal vaccine exemption, legislators seek powerful ally
But so far, the state’s new health commissioner, Renee Coleman-Mitchell, is taking pains to remain outside the political fray.
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Republican legislator signs on to represent Bristol couple in vaccine lawsuit
Cara Pavalock-D’Amato, R-Bristol, has agreed to represent the couple suing to block the release of data showing the percentage of unvaccinated children at each Connecticut school.
Posted inHealth
State seeks dismissal of vaccine lawsuit
Lawyers for the state say the parents who brought the lawsuit lack standing because they have not proved that the data release harmed them.
Posted inHealth
Legislative leaders press health commissioner on religious vaccine exemption
Legislative leaders ramped up pressure Thursday on the state’s new commissioner of public health, asking her to take a formal position on the hot-button issue of vaccine exemptions.
Posted inHealth
Couple sues to block release of new, statewide vaccination data
The health department would not say Monday whether it still plans to make public the latest school-by-school information. The data was expected to be released this month.
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No vote to end religious vaccine exemptions this year
Lawmakers abandoned their quest this year because they couldn’t reach agreement on what to do with unvaccinated children already in school.
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Lawmakers poised to announce plan for repealing religious exemption on vaccines
At issue is whether children already enrolled in school would be “grandfathered in,” meaning the repeal might only affect those looking to attend public school in the future.
Posted inHealth
Dozens of vaccine skeptics testify against removal of religious exemption
Dozens of immunization skeptics criticized the last-minute attempt to push through legislation that would dismantle the religious exemption, while hundreds more crowded into hearing rooms to listen to the testimony.
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Lawmakers set hearing on wiping out religious exemption to vaccines
The hearing on Monday is a possible first step in introducing 11th hour legislation to repeal the religious exemption provision.
