Forced Vaccination? Not in Vermont!

A newly introduced Vermont bill, H.114 proposes once again to remove the religious and philosophical vaccine exemptions from parents in Vermont and proposes to require adults working in schools or day/child care to be vaccinated against pertussis. This bill makes no sense at all, given what the “authorities” know about our current outbreak.

Wakey, Wakey! Remember how much last year’s bill to remove our philosophical exemption morphed before it was finally passed? Read the bill text of this year’s forced vaccination bill and see how easy (and how tempting?) it may be for someone to just change a few words here or there. This bill is deceptive in that the bill appears to be “limited” in the sense that it covers one vaccine but in fact it goes way beyond the reach of the last bill in the depth of the mandate. It is also opportunistic – because, even though the product is failing -sponsors seek to captalize on media coverage at a time when the natural pertusis cycle is at a peak.

This is not “JUST about pertussis (whooping cough)” – it is about YOUR RIGHT TO SAY NO.

This bill must be vigorously opposed. An online petition will circulate shortly, but in the meantime, please encourage your lawmakers to oppose this bill outright in any form. Call them now: 828-2228, ask for them to call you back. When they do call you back, let them know who you are, what town you are from, and tell him or her that keeping your right to say no to vaccines, and not mandating vaccines as a pre-requisite for school or a job is something that is very important to you. Remind them that they are elected to protect your rights.

For background information please watch video* here which reviews journal articles as well as news stories on this issue; also read this article for more information. * the video is excellent despite it’s controversial closing comment…

Find out who your elected lawmaker is, here: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/findMyMember.cfm

Read more…

Why would our elected lawmakers propose to remove our rights? Obviously, they are not up to date on the latest information about the pertussis vaccine, a product which is failing.

Or perhaps the Vermont Health Commissioner needs to get his story straight and take direction from the Vermonters he supposedly works for.

Jan, 2011: Vermont Health Commissioner Harry Chen to our House of Reps:

Feb. 2011, Vermont Health Commissioner Harry Chen, Seven Days:

“Of course, it’s important for parents to understand the risks and benefits, and I have absolute respect for their right to make their own decisions… But I don’t think that being alarmist contributes to overall public health. Vaccines have saved countless lives.” 

“Pertussis vaccine is not our best vaccine, regardless of mutations.” 

“While I absolutely agree with the policy around mandating vaccinations, I personally feel like we can improve more by concentrating our efforts on (people who) aren’t quite up to date (on their vaccines) but want to get up to date and provide better education to parents.” 

Chen is working with a task force to draw up a report due to legislators next month that will address ways of dealing with children who can’t be vaccinated due to underlying diseases or have health issues that make them more vulnerable to contracting certain diseases. Two recommendations that could come out of that report, he said, are to put such children in classes or schools with higher immunization rates and to require teachers and staff to be fully vaccinated.”

How many school nurses, teachers, principals will agree to mandatory vaccination as a condition of employment (and who will be next)? There is no “pertussis-only” vaccine; it comes in combination with tetanus and diphtheria.