BRUNSWICK — As a representative to the Maine House, and as a parent and a grandfather, I am concerned about the increasing numbers of children who are not immunized from deadly diseases. Therefore, I’ve filed legislation (L.D. 606) to increase the immunization rate.

In Maine, parents must show that each child’s immunizations are up to date in order to enroll their children in school or day care. The reason is obvious: To prevent contagious diseases like measles and whooping cough from spreading to other kids.

Currently there are three exemptions to this requirement: First, for medical reasons; second, for religious reasons; and third, simply for personal or “philosophical” reasons.

My proposal is to simply delete the “philosophical” exemption. I don’t really understand why a “philosophical” objection is needed.

If a parent feels strongly that vaccinations are harmful or dangerous to their child, then what they are really arguing for is a medical exemption, which is already allowed under our laws. Only 19 states have this additional “philosophical” exemption, which really means that a parent can opt out without any reason at all.

In the 2011-2012 school year, 3.9 percent of Maine kindergartners were not immunized. In the next year, 4.3 percent were not. During the last school year, 5.5 percent were not. This increase is driven by the ease and convenience of simply opting out.

This has set off alarm bells in the medical community, since these levels breach the ability of “herd immunity” to suppress outbreaks. This increasing rate of parents who voluntarily withhold immunizations threatens the safety not just of those kids, but also of those who are unable to get immunized.

Let me speak to you not as a lawyer, former judge or legislator, but as a child of the 1950s, a parent and a grandparent.

My aunt had polio. I grew up in the shadow of the polio epidemic, and lined up with all the other kids for the oral Salk vaccine, delivered in tiny paper cups.

When my brother Roger got whooping cough in the 1960s, a young doctor refused to believe it since he thought the disease had been eradicated – he had never seen or heard whooping cough. Only after an older doctor listened to the cough was it confirmed as whooping cough, although Roger had been vaccinated against it. A percentage of vaccinations don’t take, and these kids are at risk without knowing it.

My daughter Ruth developed osteosarcoma, a virulent bone cancer, at age 15. Her immune system, as well as her hair, was knocked out by chemotherapy, and she could not risk infections or colds. So going back to school between treatments was a big risk. These days, there are many children who are unable to get vaccinated or have lost their immunity because of sickness.

As a grampa, I know that at child care centers unvaccinated infants are often exposed to toddlers and older kids. Measles is highly contagious, even several days before symptoms show up. The disease can spread into a room and stay for two hours. The danger of spreading disease to a roomful of unvaccinated infants is real.

People susceptible to disease have a right to be safe in day cares and schools. This includes people for whom the vaccine doesn’t take, like my brother; those whose immune system is knocked out, like my daughter; and those of a tender age who can’t be vaccinated. Older people are also at risk.

We hear the argument of a personal “right” not to vaccinate regardless of any medical justification. That’s fine. But there is also the right of other kids, who are unable to get vaccinated or for whom the vaccine does not take, to attend safe schools and day cares. Physical safety should always be our first priority.

Our state constitution lists the “Objects of government” as follows:

“We the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility, provide for our mutual defense, promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of liberty … do agree to form ourselves into a free and independent State … .”

It is vital to our tranquility and common welfare to require children to be immunized for contagious diseases before they are enrolled in our busy, crowded day cares and schools. Exemptions should be allowed for valid religious or medical reasons, but not simply because it is inconvenient or because a parent does not personally believe in immunization.

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