California takes a step forward with one of the most stringent vaccine regulations in the nation.
California's recent decline in vaccination rates, particularly in some counties, has raised concerns about herd immunity, with vaccination rates falling below the critical 95% threshold for measles in 16 counties as of early August 2025[1][3].
The decline is a result of California's SB-277, which eliminated nonmedical exemptions for school vaccinations, passed earlier in the decade[1][4]. Despite this, vaccination rates appear to be slipping in some areas, particularly rural or less populated counties, contributing to local pockets below herd immunity levels[1].
California's vaccination rates remain generally higher than the national average, but the presence of exemptions in other states is associated with increased risk of disease spread[4]. Nationwide, vaccination rates have fallen below the 95% herd immunity threshold since 2020, with only 92.5% of kindergarteners nationwide vaccinated against measles in the 2024-2025 school year[1][3][4].
In California, high vaccination coverage is evident in populous Southern California counties, such as Los Angeles County at 97.1% and Orange County at 97.4%[1]. However, several counties, such as Sutter County at 75.8% and San Bernardino County at 93.5%, have lower rates, below herd immunity thresholds[1].
Challenges in monitoring vaccination status among homeschooled children and incarcerated populations can undermine herd immunity locally despite high public school vaccination rates[5].
Meanwhile, a separate development in California involves a new law making it harder for employers to classify workers as independent contractors[6]. This law is part of a broader trend towards more employee protections in the gig economy. The law guarantees minimum wages and benefits for these workers[7].
In a different context, California has been at the centre of a measles outbreak in early 2015, with more cases in January 2015 than in any one month in the past 20 years[2]. The outbreak spread due to communities with large numbers of unvaccinated people[2].
The California Supreme Court has previously provided guidance on overtime exemptions for employees, as seen in the case Harris v The Superior Court of Los Angeles County, decided on December 29, 2011[8]. This case clarified the administrative employee exemption from overtime.
In the same year, California became the epicentre of a measles outbreak, but the advancement of SB-277 could potentially protect schools from future outbreaks by reaching the level of vaccination needed for "herd immunity".
References:
[1] California Department of Public Health
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[3] California Immunization Coalition
[4] National Conference of State Legislatures
[5] National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
[6] California Legislative Information
[7] California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
[8] Justia
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