By Cherae Hunt |Staff Writer|

California grade school children must now be vaccinated to attend class as a result of an amended bill.

“Since 2000, 142 Californians have suffered severe adverse reactions, resulting in 46 deaths of California citizens. Children under the age of 11 months suffered 52.82 percent of these adverse reactions,” according to sb277.org.

The lawmakers passed the Bill on the vaccine SB 277 on April 22, 2015 by a 7-2 vote.

“Following a measles outbreak that began in mid-December at Disneyland — which state public health officials attribute in large part to unvaccinated individuals — California State Sen. Richard Pan and two other lawmakers introduced SB 277 in February,” according to The Sun.

Parents have protested, claiming the Bill is keeping children from their right to an education.

“The law prohibits the governing authority of a school or other institution from unconditionally admitting any person as a pupil of any public or private elementary or secondary school, childcare center, nursery school, family day care home, or development center, unless prior to his or her admission to that institution he or she has been fully immunized against various diseases, including measles, mumps, and pertussis, subject to any specific age criteria,” according to the Bill released by the Senate on Feb. 19, 2015.

“I’m all for it. As a biologist, I know how vaccines work,” said CSUSB Professor Tomasz Owerkowicz.

“There was a delayed vote by the Senate because they had doubts that the lack of students getting a vaccination would deprive them of their education,” according to CBS Sacramento.

“I feel like kids should get vaccinated because the disease could potentially harm someone. Now it sounds a bit ludicrous because if the student doesn’t get the vaccine they can’t go to school but I think the government is just concerned about the safety of the students,” stated student David Higgins.

“I think students in grade school should be vaccinated because of the safety of other children and the children themselves to be immune to viruses,” stated student Elizabeth Meza.

Religion is one of the reasons, among others, that some parents do not want to get their children vaccinated.

“In addition to fetal tissue, some residents of California believe that God does not want their bodies or the bodies of their babies injected with neurotoxins, heavy metals, animal tissues, genetically modified organisms, live or attenuated viruses, cleansers, adjuvants, stabilizers, preservatives, etc.,” according to the website, sb277.org, who is opposed to the implementation of the Bill.

“I have younger siblings. Parents need to be more open-minded before making health choices that could harm everyone,” stated student Briana Brancato.

Medical waivers will only be permitted to children who have health problems.

“I absolutely think that children should get vaccinated. Who would be stupid enough to expose a child to something that can harm them?,” said staff member Tom Benson.

The Bill is now going to the Judicial Committee where they will either approve or veto the Bill. There will be a hearing next week.