A spokesman for Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said the senator supports a mandatory measles vaccination for children.
“Based on the science and concerns for public health, Sen. Bennet thinks there should be a legal requirement to vaccinate children against the measles,” a spokesman told The Cortez Journal.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 102 people from 14 states were reported to have measles from Jan. 1 to Jan. 30. The CDC will update the number Monday. More cases are expected.
But Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., said the decision to vaccinate children should remain with their parents, not the government.
“The medical and scientific community overwhelmingly concludes that vaccinations are safe and effective for preventing disease,” a spokesman for the congressman told the Journal. “Congressman Tipton believes that children should be vaccinated, but doesn’t believe it’s the role of the federal government to force parents and their children’s physicians to do so.”
Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., did not respond Friday to a request for comment.
The issue of mandatory immunizations has split many of the GOP’s potential presidential candidates for 2016.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said parents need to have “some measure of choice” in the matter, but later released a statement saying “with a disease like measles, there is no question kids should be vaccinated” after his response drew backlash.
Retired neurosurgeon and tea party favorite Ben Carson went as far as to say that certain vaccines should be required, citing it as an issue of public safety.
Michael Cipriano is a student at American University in Washington, D.C., and an intern for The Cortez Journal.