As the debate continues about vaccinations, two state lawmakers announced legislation with new requirements for schools and parents seeking exemptions for their children.

While some exceptions are understandable — even vital in many cases — it’s good legislators are promoting immunization and compelling those seeking exemptions for their children to learn about the dangers involved.

State Rep. Dan Frankel proposed a bill this week to require families seeking a non-medical exemption to meet with a doctor annually to discuss the science of immunizations and risks involved in not getting children vaccinated.

Rep. Bridget Kosierowski’s bill would require schools to publish the number of vaccinated and unvaccinated students online.

Frankel said that Rep. Kathy Rapp, chairwoman of the health committee, indicated his bill would be included in a hearing on legislation proposed by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe that would prohibit denial of medical care for those who decline or delay vaccinations.

“Communities across the United States have found themselves confronting outbreaks of diseases that we eradicated decades ago,” Frankel said. “The choice to opt out of vaccination has profound implications not just for the child, but for the community as well.”

The proposed legislation comes at a good time. In April, the first case of measles was reported in Allegheny County, prompting health officials to encourage parents to vaccinate their children. By late June, additional cases popped up in Allegheny, in addition to Lancaster and Crawford counties.

As of Aug. 15, a total of 1,203 cases of measles have been discovered in 30 states, leading to 124 people being hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The outbreak has been called the worst in 27 years.

Since January 2018, Pennsylvania confirmed 376 cases of hepatitis A, resulting in hundreds of hospitalizations and seven deaths. That virus can’t be treated with medication, but can be prevented by vaccine.

Parents who do not get their child immunized are putting their own children — and those of others — at risk.

We understand some people cannot be vaccinated — such as pregnant women or children who have extreme allergic reactions to the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.

But others seeking exemptions for their children for non-health-related reasons should be provided with the facts.

We hope the legislation proposed by Frankel and Kosierowski leads to parents educating themselves on immunization.

It doesn’t force parents to take steps for their children they oppose, but it requires them to be educated on the consequences of inaction.

Children’s decisions are mostly made by their parents. It’s important they are armed with the knowledge to make the right ones for their families.