Events came quickly on the vaccine front in Oregon, over a matter of days. Demonstrations against a legislative bill that would end most non-medical vaccine exemptions for children reached a fever pitch, just at the time the Senate Republicans vanished, stalling Senate business.
Their return for a vote on new taxes was arranged in exchange for the dropping of two bills, one on gun controls... and the vaccine bill (HB 3063, which had already passed the house). Senator Jeff Golden of Ashland, who had raised concerns about the bill, visits with his perspective on what happened.
Then we revisit an earlier interview with pediatrician Paul Thomas and journalist Jennifer Margulis about their approach, written as The Vaccine-Friendly Plan. The legislative change dampens the controversy... but does not end it.