HEALTH

Gov. Doug Ducey says he'll veto bills that could erode vaccine coverage

Stephanie Innes
The Republic | azcentral.com
Gov. Doug Ducey

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey says he is "pro-vaccination" and will not sign any bills that could erode vaccine coverage in the state.

"Traditionally, I don't comment on bills that are moving through the Legislature," Ducey told reporters following the Grand Canyon Park centennial celebration at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza on Wednesday, according to a transcript provided by his office.

"But because this involves public health, I think it's important for people to know that we are pro-vaccination in the state of Arizona. Vaccinations are good for our kids and helpful for public health."

Disregarding warnings from health officials, the state House Health and Human Services Committee last week endorsed three bills that could lead to lower immunization coverage among Arizona's schoolchildren.

Ducey did not speak about the specific bills on Wednesday, but said he is not going to sign any legislation that jeopardizes public health, nor will he sign anything that does not promote vaccination.

"We want to see more of our kids being vaccinated, rather than fewer,"  Ducey said.

The three bills are:

  • House Bill 2470, which expands vaccine exemption categories in Arizona and also gives parents additional leeway by removing the requirement that they sign a state health department form to get a vaccine exemption.
  • House Bill 2471, which is an informed-consent bill that would give parents information about vaccine ingredients and vaccine risks, including how to file a complaint for vaccine injury. Critics say it is cumbersome and could confuse parents, who already receive that information from physicians.
  • House Bill 2472, which requires doctors to offer parents an "antibody titer" blood test to determine whether their child needs a vaccine or is already immune. Medical experts say such tests are unreliable and expensive and would be an unnecessary time burden on clinicians.

The House health committee vote was along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor of the bills, and the committee's four Democrats voting in opposition. 

Committee chairwoman Rep. Nancy Barto, a Republican from Phoenix, sponsored the three bills, which have attracted national attention at a time when health officials are increasingly worried about measles outbreaks due to declining vaccination rates among children.

Barto's bills would only put up more barriers to getting kids vaccinated, critics said. Vaccination rates have been falling in Arizona and some health experts say the metropolitan Phoenix area is at risk for an expensive and sustained outbreak. 

 "I'm pro-vaccination, I'm anti-measles. I want to see fewer people being exposed to measles and the other things that we've spent decades through research and development in the medical industry and health care making our country a better place and safer place to live," Ducey said.

"I want to see more kids being vaccinated."

Reach the reporter at stephanie.innes@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter: @stephanieinnes.