State tightens rules for childhood vaccinations

LANSING (AP) - Michigan's health agency is working to make it harder for parents to get out of immunizing their children against contagious diseases. The Michigan Department of Community Health has rules that take effect Jan. 1 requiring parents to take extra steps in order to get permission to leave their children unprotected. MLive.com says parents seeking vaccination waivers will have to hear from a health worker about vaccines and the diseases they're intended to prevent. Parents also will have to sign a form acknowledging they may be putting their own and other people's children at risk with the failure to vaccinate. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules recently approved the new requirements. California, Colorado and Vermont have recently taken similar steps. -------- Online: Child immunization information: http://1.usa.gov/1zWh6zh. Published: Wed, Dec 17, 2014