By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis – Children in Missouri will soon have to get the chicken pox vaccine before entering school, and that has one lawmaker hoping to change how such vaccines become a requirement.
Senator John Loudon, R-Ballwin, says he's not necessarily against the chicken pox vaccine, he just does not like the way it became required.
As first reported on KWMU, the state's Department of Health and Senior Services set the rule. But Loudon says no one in that department is elected.
"When we're going to do something by force of law what every child must have put into their bodies, then it ought to be done by the people's elected body rather by un-elected bureaucrats," Loudon said.
The chicken pox rule is set to take effect for all children entering school in fall 2005.
It's also the first vaccine that became required without first being passed by the state House and Senate.