Ohio bill would require meningitis immunization for students

COLUMBUS (AP) — A state Senate committee has approved legislation to require Ohio students to be immunized against meningitis.

The measure 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 today. The full Senate must still consider it.

It was proposed by Republican Sen. Cliff Hite of Findlay. Hite has said his family learned how quickly meningitis can affect young people when his niece died hours after contracting the disease.