Ohio bill would require meningitis shot for students

A state Senate committee has approved legislation to require Ohio students to be immunized against meningitis (Source: “Ohio bill would require meningitis immunization for students,” Associated Press via WKYC-TV, April 22, 2015). 

Senate Bill 121, sponsored by Sen. Cliff Hite, would require students to be immunized against meningococcal disease if they're a certain age, which would be determined by the Ohio Department of Health.

The initial proposal called for the requirement to start in the 2016-17 school year and apply to students at public and nonpublic schools that have to meet state standards. Students could be exempt for medical or religious reasons.

The Health and Human Services committee passed the measure Wednesday. The full Senate must still consider it.