SAN DIEGO - A federal judge is taking his time in deciding whether to force millions of California children to get vaccinated before going back to school.
Opponents of a state law that requires nearly all schoolchildren to be vaccinated against diseases such as measles and whooping cough took their case to court Friday.
The group asked a judge in U.S. District Court in San Diego to put a temporary restraining order on a law that took effect July 1, requiring parents to vaccinate their children before they can be enrolled in school.
The 13-page complaint was filed by the organization Education4All on behalf of a group of about 20 parents. Senate Bill 277 was signed into law last summer by Gov. Jerry Brown. The legislation was prompted in part by an outbreak of measles traced to Disneyland that began in late December 2014 and ultimately spread to more than 130 people across the state.
The legislation eliminates vaccination exemptions based on religious or personal beliefs. It requires all children entering kindergarten to be vaccinated unless a doctor certifies that a child has a medical condition, such as allergies, preventing it.
Opponents have criticized the bill as infringing on the rights of parents to make medical decisions for their children.
Early Friday afternoon, the judge said he would take the challenge to the law under submission, but also noted he would make a final decision as soon as he could.
