A bill proposed in the Minnesota Senate would effectively eliminate vaccination exemptions for “conscientiously held beliefs” in child care centers and family child care providers. S.F. 610 would allow providers to “develop a policy regarding immunizations for children over two months of age.” According to Alpha News‚ private daycare providers are currently required to honor belief-based exemptions under state law. “Minnesota statutes covering immunization exemptions currently treat private childcare centers similar to public schools‚ where conscientiously held beliefs are statutorily protected‚” the outlet reports. S.F. 610‚ sponsored by Senator Liz Boldon (DFL – Rochester)‚ reads: Section 1 (121A.15‚ subdivision 3) states that subdivision 3‚ paragraph (d)‚ which allows immunizations to not be required if a notarized statement detailing the conscientiously held beliefs of a parent or guardian is submitted to a school or child care facility‚ does not apply to a child enrolling or enrolled in a child care center or family child care program that adopts an immunization policy under subdivision 3b. Section 2 [121A.15‚ subdivision 3b] allows child care centers and family child care providers to adopt a policy that prohibits a child over two months of age from enrolling or remaining enrolled in the center or program if the child isn’t immunized pursuant to subdivision 1 or 2 and is not exempt from immunization under subdivision 3‚ paragraph (a)‚ (c)‚ (e)‚ or (f). Boldon said the legislation “seeks to allow a specific group of independent businesses — licensed childcare providers — the choice to make policy around immunizations only involving the last exemption‚ personal beliefs‚” according to Alpha News. Dems seek to eliminate belief-based vax exemptions for families enrolled in daycare https://t.co/eFlRlxtOju — Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) February 18‚ 2024 Alpha News reports: Organizations that testified in support of the bill include the Minnesota Childcare Association‚ the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics‚ Freedom Foundation of Minnesota and Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians‚ who cited what they called an “alarming decline” in vaccination rates across the state as a reason for supporting the bill. But not all daycare providers or health professionals who testified endorsed the legislation. Breanna Bergman‚ a longtime early childcare substitute instructor‚ said she has “been at the frontline of disease and illness” in her career. She is concerned there are countless families around the state who will be squeezed out of childcare options if the bill passes and some of the larger corporate childcare providers operating in Minnesota are able to develop a policy that would allow them to turn away families who cite conscientiously held beliefs as a reason for not vaccinating their children on time or at all. “When there are 17 different [required vaccinations]‚ if a child has a reaction to only one‚ medical exemptions will only be for that vaccine they had a reaction to‚” Bergman told senators. Colleen Grant‚ a registered nurse and mother‚ submitted written testimony in opposition to the bill‚ saying she believes vaccination-induced immunity is an extremely useful public health tool but is concerned the “language in SF610 is resorting to using coercion to compel parents in our state to vaccinate their children by taking away their option to have their conscientious exemption recognized by their childcare provider. “I am not anti-vax‚ but I am anti-coercion‚” Grant said. In Minnesota‚ there is a bill which would allow daycare centers to require vaccines‚ and allow them to refuse service to parents with children who are not compliant. There is a hearing scheduled for tomorrow morning‚ and this organization is spreading the word. Please share. https://t.co/iJpfh0Hex7 — Drew Dietle‚ MD (@drew_dietle) February 14‚ 2024 Daycare providers will need to require all vaccines if this passes. Please sign and share.Minnesota. Vote NO on SF610! https://t.co/R52oNaeAFu — Minnesotagal (@Patrici38322754) February 14‚ 2024 Watch coverage from the hearing below (S.F. 610 begins at 1:03.00):