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MONTPELIER, Vt.- For Jennifer Stella, it’s a question of informed consent. Her son had a seizure after getting childhood vaccinations and her daughter suffered a “head-to-toe” eczema outbreak; she says parents should research the risks and benefits of immunizations and decide which ones are appropriate.

For Jill Olson, a mother of two, it’s a matter of trusting the experts. “There’s not really any way that as an individual I can do more scientific study and research than the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Centers for Disease Control.”

For Vermont House Speaker Shap Smith, the state motto sums it up: “freedom and unity” – individual choice versus the public health benefit of having a high percentage of kids vaccinated.

“It’s a balance between individual rights and our obligations to each other in society,” the Democratic speaker said.