Bill > H4096

This bill establishes the Community Immunity Act within the Department of Public Health. The key provisions include: 1) Requiring all schools, child care centers, recreational camps, and institutions of higher education to comply with immunization requirements set forth in the new section 238 of chapter 111. 2) Defining the types of exemptions allowed (medical or religious) and establishing a standardized application process for these exemptions, which must be approved by the Department of Public Health. 3) Requiring covered programs to report immunization and exemption data to the Department, which will then publish this data publicly. 4) Designating programs that have not achieved "herd immunity" as "elevated risk" programs, which must then take specific steps to address low immunization rates. 5) Directing the Department to create educational materials on immunization safety, efficacy, and herd immunity, and distribute these to all families requesting exemptions or attending "elevated risk" programs. The bill aims to increase community immunity by establishing consistent immunization requirements and transparency around exemption rates across various childcare and educational settings.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4096