Protesters Speak Out Against Newly Enacted Child Vaccine Requirements

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Protesters came out to the Capitol to speak against a law that took effect on Friday requiring schoolchildren be vaccinated.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 277 into law in June 2015, but Friday marked the beginning of the requirement that drew outrage from the anti-vaccine movement.

Protesters held a candlelight vigil saying their freedoms had been taken away.

"We're standing out here to say our children matter and even though they passed this law that says our children don't matter, that they do and that we're gonna keep the pressure on," said parent Kimberly McCauley.

Under the new law, parents can no longer opt out of vaccinating their children due to personal beliefs. In order to register for school, children are now required to be immunized against 10 viruses, including chickenpox, measles and mumps.

The law came in the wake of an outbreak of whooping cough at Disneyland.

Vaccinate California, an advocacy group that sponsored SB277 says the new law is working and that parents can still get a medical exemption from their doctor.