FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill that would exempt some adults and children from getting vaccinated has moved ahead in the Kentucky legislature.

Republican Senator Mike Wilson of Bowling Green is the sponsor of Senate Bill 8. He told the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Welfare Wednesday that he does not oppose vaccines, but he had heard from constituents who didn't want to be forced to get a vaccine.

The bill states that during an epidemic, as the law is currently written, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services may require the immunization of everyone in the area. 

“The Cabinet has not exercised their ability to mandate that, nor has the governor through an executive order, and say they will not," Wilson said. "However, in the future, we wanted to make sure there was an exemption.”  

Wilson’s bill would allow parents or guardians to exempt their children and give emancipated minors and adults the ability to opt out through a written sworn statement. 

“It provides for them to be able to say, you know, 'I am opposed to this on religious grounds or my medical provider says I can’t take it,' or one other phrase that we’ve added is a conscientiously-held belief, that they can opt out on," Wilson said. "That’s the only place that we’re actually physically changing the intent of the law.” 

Republican Senator Ralph Alvarado, a doctor from Winchester, told the committee that while he wants everyone to get the vaccine, the government can’t force people to.

"I think when there’s active disease, if you have any of those illnesses and you have the risk of spreading that to society, government should step in and say, 'No, you’re going to be quarantined, you have a disease, you might infect others, you shouldn’t,'" Alvarado said. "When it comes to prevention, it’s a much more difficult line." 

Democratic Senator Morgan McGarvey of Louisville voted against the bill, which passed out of committee. 

“Every medical organization, every health organization in Kentucky has come out as opposed to this bill because it could have unintended negative consequences for the health of all Kentuckians and especially school-aged children and children who are immunocompromised, so I think it’s one that we probably need to step back and take a look at, and make sure that we get it right," McGarvey said, following the meeting. 

Wilson said the legislation would not impact private employers such as hospitals that may require employees to be vaccinated.