Texas Senate Bill SB2350

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the prohibited administration of certain vaccinations.

Impact

If enacted, SB2350 would fundamentally alter the requirements for vaccine administration in Texas, potentially leading to significant changes in public vaccination programs. By adding restrictions around vaccines that are not proven safe through specified studies, healthcare providers may face new barriers to administering vaccines. These could potentially dissuade some from pursuing vaccinations or create hesitancy among the public due to perceived risks that may not be supported by the majority of scientific evidence. The impact of this bill could have wide-reaching implications for herd immunity and overall public health in the state.

Summary

Senate Bill 2350 seeks to regulate the administration of certain vaccines by stipulating stringent safety evaluation criteria that must be met before a vaccine can be administered by healthcare providers. This bill includes several specific requirements regarding the nature of studies relied upon by the FDA for vaccine approval. Among these requirements, the safety evaluations must have compared the vaccine against a control group receiving either a placebo or another vaccine approved through similar rigorous trials. It also mandates that potential long-term health impacts, including autoimmune and neurological conditions, must be assessed with sufficient follow-up time.

Contention

There may be considerable debate around SB2350 as it directly addresses vaccine safety and public health. Supporters of the bill argue that the proposed regulations will ensure that vaccines meet the highest safety standards, potentially increasing public trust in vaccination processes. However, opponents may argue that the requirements laid out in the bill are overly burdensome, and could hinder public health efforts by limiting vaccine access and increasing skepticism about vaccine safety, especially among vulnerable populations. This contention emphasizes the broader conflict between public health initiatives and individual rights concerning medical decisions.