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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio students would need to be immunized against meningitis under a measure that cleared a legislative committee.
The legislation would require students to be immunized against meningococcal disease once they reach a certain age, which would be determined by the Ohio Department of Health.
The requirement would start in the 2016-17 school year. With few exceptions, the proposal would apply to students at public and nonpublic schools that are subject to state standards. Students could be exempt for medical or religious reasons.
The House Health and Aging Committee approved the bill Wednesday. The full House must still consider it.
Republican Sen. Cliff Hite of Findlay sponsored the legislation. Hite has said his family learned how quickly meningitis can affect young people when his niece died hours after contracting the disease.
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