Actress Jessica Biel is facing criticism across social media after she made an appearance at the California State Assembly alongside known anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lobby against a vaccination bill.
CNN reports that Biel appeared with Kennedy at the state Legislature on Tuesday to lobby against Senate Bill 276, which seeks to crack down on the medical exemptions doctors can provide for vaccines — a bill that has been met with great opposition from vaccine skeptics in the state.
Kennedy confirmed to The Daily Beast on Thursday that he and Biel met with roughly 15 legislators to lobby against the bill.
{mosads}“The biggest problem with the bill, which is something I think Jessica is concerned with is that a doctor who has made a determination — if he has found children in this state whose doctors have determined that they’re too fragile to receive vaccinations — this bill would overrule the doctors and force them to be vaccinated anyways,” Kennedy said.
When pressed further about Biel’s position on vaccinations, Kennedy told the publication: “I would say that she was for safe vaccines and for medical freedom.”
He also called her “a very effective advocate” and the actress was “very strong and very knowledgeable.”
After being met with criticism on social media over her advocacy against the vaccine bill, Biel shared a post on Instagram seeking to clarify her position on vaccinations.
“This week I went to Sacramento to talk to legislators in California about a proposed bill. I am not against vaccinations — I support children getting vaccinations and I also support families having the right to make educated medical decisions for their children alongside their physicians,” she wrote.
“My concern with #SB277 is solely regarding medical exemptions,” Biel continued. “My dearest friends have a child with a medical condition that warrants an exemption from vaccinations, and should this bill pass, it would greatly affect their family’s ability to care for their child in this state. That’s why I spoke to legislators and argued against this bill.”
“Not because I don’t believe in vaccinations, but because I believe in giving doctors and the families they treat the ability to decide what’s best for their patients and the ability to provide that treatment,” she added. “I encourage everyone to read more on this issue and to learn about the intricacies of #SB277. Thank you to everyone who met with me this week to engage in this important discussion!”