Reps. Russo, Liston issue statements after latest anti-vaccination bill hearing

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Beth Liston (D-Dublin) issued statements today after the Ohio House Health Committee held another hearing for House Bill 248, controversial anti-vaccine legislation that would prohibit schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and all other employers from requiring or requesting that employees get any vaccine. HB 248 would also prohibit colleges and universities from requiring that students living on-campus disclose their vaccination status and forbid private businesses from requiring that customers receive any vaccine.

“This bill is incredibly expansive and ignores the protections already in place in Ohio and federal law that allow individuals to decline vaccinations for medical and religious reasons.  We again heard a lot of vaccine misinformation and conspiracy during testimony today and basing Ohio policy on these extreme views while ignoring the information presented by our medical and public health community is bad for the health of every Ohioan.  This bill is strongly opposed by every major health, business, education, physician, nursing, and patient advocacy group, which clearly demonstrates the overreach and harms of HB 248,” said Rep. Russo.

“This hearing pandered to the conspiracy theorists and extreme groups behind the bill, giving them equal footing with health experts and the business community. It is simple. HB 248 will lead to more disease and death in our state and it shouldn’t be law,” said Rep. Liston.