By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD — The House Thursday voted to make itself the arbitrator for new vaccines for school children.

The House approved House Bill 357 which would end the current practice of allowing the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee the vaccines children need in order to attend school through administrative rules.

Instead the legislature would determine the necessary vaccines.

“The mandating of a new vaccine is a direct exercise in government coercion,” said Rep. Matt Drew, R-Manchester. “As such, it should be under the control of the legislature, not left to the rule-making process.”

But retired physician Rep. Gary Woods, D-Concord, said the legislative process is more cumbersome and lengthy while the current process is more reactive.

He was also concerned the bill would make New Hampshire the only state not requiring varicella or Hib and only one of three not requiring Hepatitis B vaccine.

And he said the bill would allow the requirement for some of the most virulent diseases chicken pox, Hepatitis B, Hemophilus influenza B  to expire in June of 2026.

The bill passed on a 195-174 vote and goes to the senate.

The House also approved House Bill 358 to expand the religious exemption for vaccines on a 206-169 vote.

The bill would allow a person to name the vaccine he or she objects to on religious grounds and sign the paper to be exempt while currently there is a form to fill out for the religious exemption.

Woods said the bill would make data about vaccinations and who has them in a school more difficult to obtain.

“This is crucial if you have an outbreak to know who is vaccinated and who is not,” he said.

But supporters said the bill just simplifies the process.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com.