California governor Jerry Brown has recently signed a bill that imposes one of the strictest school vaccination laws in the US.

Previously a rather vaccination-lax state, California is stepping up in the wake of a measles outbreak in Disneyland that occurred in  2014 and affected over 100 people.

The law abolishes exemptions for personal beliefs, which were formerly given out like candy in Cali. Now, only children with serious health issues, like an allergy to a vaccine, would qualify for exemption from the new measures. Unvaccinated children will have to be home-schooled.

And people are kicking up a fit. Controversy! But there shouldn’t be. Vaccination has time and time again proven to be a reliable, safe option in disease prevention.

Vaccines, according to The World Health Organization, have prevented 6 million deaths every year worldwide, enabling modern medicine to deliver preventative care.

The benefit of vaccines is not a matter of opinion; it is a matter of fact, scientific fact.

If anything, the United States needs more laws like these. Those who don’t get vaccinated pose a threat to society.

While measles have been eradicated in the US since 2000, the US Centers for Disease Control reports there were 644 new measles cases in 27 states last year.  The vaccination levels for children ages 19 to 35 months in the US stood at 91.9% in 2013, below the 92% rate that ensures “herd immunity” (offers protection for those who can’t get immunized for medical reasons and adults whose immunization has worn off). Yes, that’s only a .01% away from safety level. But I say, better safe than sorry.

Aubrey Stimola once stated, “lost amidst the pervasive paranoia is the irrefutable scientific fact that vaccines have saved millions of lives worldwide.” Although there has been suspicion surrounding vaccines(as there is suspicion surrounding all types of tested medication), it is unwarranted. Before a vaccine is ever approved and licensed, it goes through years of testing for safety and effectiveness. Neither the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) nor government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would recommend a vaccine that had was not safe.

So listen up Congress. We need mandatory vaccination in all states. Take a cue from California and get on it.