Bill That Would Allow Children To Attend School Without Vaccination Squeaks By In Committee

By Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan

February 24, 2021

A bill that would change the definition of “immunity” for school attendance and allow children to go to school without vaccines squeaked through the House Education Committee on a 9-8 vote this week.

“I’m a strong proponent of choice, and ultimately, this bill provides a choice,” said Rep. Scot Kerns, R-Great Falls.

Chair Rep. Seth Berglee, R-Joliet, said House Bill 332 doesn’t tie the hands of the public schools, but tries to clarify terms. Plus, he said exemptions for children to attend public schools without being vaccinated already exist. The Department of Public Health and Human Services provides for religious and medical exemptions for school immunization.

“There’s some strong opinions on all sides of that,” Berglee said.

The bill would define an “immunizing agent” as an antigen introduced through a vaccine, or through “immunotherapy, or through homeoprophylaxis that stimulates immunity without inducing the disease itself.” Homeoprophylaxis is a controversial treatment that hasn’t been backed by medical research.

During a committee hearing last week, a medical doctor said the bill displayed a misuse and misunderstanding of medical terms. A pediatrician noted even the Society of Homeopaths does not permit its practitioners to offer homeoprophylaxis. And a public health expert said one result in Montana could be disease outbreaks such as the measles outbreaks seen in other states.

Rep. Moffie Funk, D-Helena, said a good argument can be made that terms need further study and updating.

“I just am not sure that … the education committee is where we ought to be debating this,” Funk said.

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