Arizona is set to expand exemptions for vaccines as other states work to tighten them in an attempt to crack down on a nationwide measles outbreak.
Last week, a state legislative panel approved three bills that would broaden vaccine exemption categories despite warnings from public health officials, reported the Arizona Republic.
The committee, led by Republications, voted to create a religious exemption for schoolchildren, adding to the personal beliefs exemption Arizona already has.
The measure would also get rid of a requirement for parents to sign a form from the state health department listing the risks of declining vaccines.
Meanwhile, more than 150 measles cases across the country have been identified in 10 states and critics say, if the three bills pass into law, Arizona could be next.
An Arizona legislative panel approved three bills that would expand vaccine exemptions. Among other things, the bill would get rid of a requirement for parents to sign a form listing the risks of declining vaccines (file image)
To obtain a religious exemption, a person must in their own words to defend their religious or spiritual belief that opposes vaccination.
'My first impression is that [the legislation] is incredibly tone deaf,' Dr Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, told DailyMail.com.
'We have measles breaking out across the US because of these exemptions. What you're doing is deliberately placing children at risk for potentially deadly diseases.'
Two other measures were passed by the committee.
One would require Arizona doctors to provide lengthy information about all the ingredients in immunizations.
'It's meant to scare parents, like if you read the package insert of any food item,' Dr Hotez said.
'All the ingredients are tested for safety. The FDA has the most rigorous testing in the world. The vaccines go through decades of clinical trials and testings.
The other would require them to tell patients about an antibody test that may help determine if someone is already immune to a disease.
'It's not even useful information for most diseases because we have no idea what amount of antibodies will protect someone,' said Dr Hotez.
'But this is what the anti-vaccine movement does, they're trying to erode confidence in vaccines. This is anti-child and anti-family legislation.'
State Rep Nancy Barto (R - Phoenix), who introduced the three bills, says she doesn't see the legislation as 'anti-vaccination bills', but rather as 'discussions about fundamental individual rights.'
But family
