Divisive vaccine proposal abandoned in Colorado

Colorado has one of the nation’s most lax vaccination requirements. And a bill to make it harder for parents to opt out of vaccinating their children has been largely abandoned.

The state Senate voted Tuesday to strip required vaccination education from the bill. The surviving measure instead just sets up additional parent education efforts about vaccines.

Democratic sponsors say the vaccine bill is just a baby step, but they’ll take it. Lawmakers from both parties objected to making it harder for parents to claim personal objections to vaccines before enrolling their kids in schools or daycare.

The bill still requires schools to disclose vaccination rates, a safeguard aimed at protecting kids with fragile immune systems.