PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Pharmaceutical companies and health care groups are funding TV ads by a group that wants to preserve Maine’s law eliminating religious and philosophical exemptions for state-mandated vaccines.
A 30-second spot by Maine Street Solutions began airing Monday featuring two pediatricians. One of them is co-founder of Maine Families for Vaccines, which supports the law.
Mainers will get the final say on the law eliminating religious and philosophical opt-outs for vaccines that was approved by lawmakers last year and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. A “people’s veto” referendum will be on the Super Tuesday ballot on March 3 in Maine.
Opponents of the law had a big fundraising advantage. But Maine Street Solutions is stepping up with the advertising buys, said Bobby Reynolds, a spokesman for the lobbying group.
Supporters of the people’s veto effort to repeal the law have tried to paint their campaign as a fight against “Big Pharma.”
And it turns out pharmaceutical companies will be a factor.
The donors behind the effort don’t have to be disclosed until later this month, but Reynolds said the group was funded largely by health care groups and vaccine manufacturers.
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