Daycare Director Supports State's Push For Workers To Get Measles Vaccine

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Daycare workers in California are not required to get a measles vaccination, but a California lawmakers is hoping to change that.

Many of the preschoolers at Caring Connections Children's Center couldn't care less about complicated laws or proposed legislation. For them, it's all about fun.

But for the daycare's director, Julie Jenkins, it's about keeping the little ones healthy and infection-free.

"I think it will give parents peace of mind," she said.

Senate Bill 792 may give those parents an extra sense of peace. The bill, introduced by state Sen. Tony Mendoza, requires all home family daycare and daycare center workers to be vaccinated against measles and other viruses.

The measles scare has topped headlines in the past few months with 124 confirmed cases in California. Many of those cases are linked to Disneyland.

"Actually I'm surprised how quickly its moved into a legislative bill," Jenkins said.

She supports the legislation, because currently her workers and others across the state aren't required to get a measles vaccination.

"At this point we've only have to have a physical clearance and TB when we start working," she said.

The bill aims to keep adults safe from passing measles to kids who may not yet be vaccinated themselves.

"It's a bit of an inconvenience but its not too much of an inconvenience to keep everybody safe," she said.

The bill is expected to be heard in a legislative policy committee within the next several weeks.