Controversial vaccine bill called conflict of interest

Senator Richard Pan, one author of the controversial vaccine bill, accepted over $95,000 last year from various pharmaceutical companies. Now, a group of individuals opposed to the bill is trying to recall the senator.

Nearly 6,200 people have signed a petition on ‘Change.org’ to recall this senator for participating in what they call “orchestrated coercion by the pharmaceutical companies.” According to a report by a sacramento newspaper, Dr. Pan received the $95,000 in campaign donations and lobbying payments.

Petitioners say the senator’s bill to eliminate the personal belief exemption from current vaccine law is a conflict of interest. Pan says not so, “I am a pediatrician, I have a background in public health, I was present during a measles outbreak in Philadelphia where nine children died…died! You think I need a motivation to do this bill?”

However, according to legislative and pharma fiscal reports, the pharmaceutical companies did not give any financial support to the vaccine bill.

Senator stands fast in his rufuting his naysayers, claiming his primary concern is protecting public health, “I’ve seen children in the hospital and i know children who’ve died from preventable diseases and what more motivation does one need than that?”

The vaccine bill has one more hurdle to clear in the Senate before it reaches governor brown’s desk.