North Dakota's House is supporting four new vaccines for youngsters, which would protect them against pneumonia, meningitis, hepatitis "A" and rotavirus, an illness that can cause severe diarrhea.

Rep. Lee Kaldor, D-Mayville, said vaccines are the most effective way to prevent youngsters from getting the illnesses, which can be deadly.

"These diseases … are much more difficult to treat, because of new strains, and because of antibiotics not always working the way that they originally did," Kaldor said. "We don't like sticking anybody with more needles … but we certainly want to give them the best protection we can."

Representatives voted 87-4 on Friday to endorse requiring the new vaccines. The legislation now moves to the Senate for its review.

Should the new vaccine requirement become law, youngsters will need them to start day care or school, unless their parents have philosophical or religious objections to vaccines.

As introduced, the bill also gave the state Health Department authority to require new vaccines without permission from the Legislature. The provision was stripped from the measure before it was approved.

The bill is HB1136.

- Associated Press