vax objection bill in NY

[Guest guest]

steph and all others in ny state,

hi, yes i am aware of this new proposed legislation...but i have been in

touch with some in the state who although they VERY much want a philosophical

exemption, they are concerned about some of the language in this

proposal...first, the very language of the bill--Conscientious Objection to

Immunizations--it's as though we're already doing something wrong...there are

people who are fervently working on this in the state as we speak...i agree,

we need to stand up in support of legislation that allwos us to claim the

exemptions we want, but this particular version of the draft allows for state

officials to do " checks " on those claiming the objection. it also allows for

the children who are not vaxed and have claimed this objection to be held

accountable under the law, to report any illnesses to the appropriate

authoirities--the rest of the kids in the state aren't bound by law to do

that--it's giving 'them' freedoms that they shouldn't have...we can get what

we want, it's just goona take a little more time.

here's some of what is in the bill:

The term " conscientious objection " shall mean that a form supplied by the

department has been signed and filed with the department and with

the school by the person in parental relation to a child confirming (i) notice

of his or her conscientious objection to immunization and  (ii) agreement to

adhere

to any notification by the school or the department to quarantine the child

in the

event  of a public health alert in relation to poliomyelitis, mumps, measles,

diphtheria,  rubella,  varicella,  hepatitis B   and,   where applicable,

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and (iii) agreement to notify the school

in the event that the child is diagnosed with poliomyelitis, mumps, measles,

diphtheria,  rubella,  varicella,  hepatitis B   and,   where applicable,

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib.

the following are some of the concerns voiced by those who would like to see

this bill amended before it is presented...

> (ii)-------------it was just 3 vague sentences indicating that the Hea Dept

> has total discretion in defining and authorizing " public health alerts "

> and   " quarentines " . Apparently they are not defined at all in the law.

> Given the historical abuse of this authority by health officials, why did

> you feel it necessary to specifically vest them with a right that entails

> such a low threshold to sanction. It will just strengthen their hand

> against litigants who feel that the Department is retaliating against

> individuals or communities with low vax compliance. So, given past abuses,

> and the fact that " public health alerts " and   " quarentines " wasn't

> mentioned in 2164/5 before, why provide the Dept with a weapon that will

> tie our hands--especially in court?

(iii)------------Are parents of vaccinated children also required to notify

the

> school if their children are diagnosed with same? If not, then why are

> unvaccinated children required to? Why would the public health threat be

> any different for them? This is another example of a provision that is not

> only nonessential, but also may lead to unequal and prejudicial treatment

> by health officials. Why include it?

>

these are just some of the reasons why there are people who are working to

amend this right now...

thanks for bringing this important piece of info to everyone's attention!!!

brigit,

in albany, ny

[Guest guest]

Hi... I haven't posted since my introduction, but wanted to get this info

out. I'm not sure if this has been mentioned yet - I haven't been able to

read the digests b/c my 1 yr. old son is sick for the first time. He has

bronchiolitis, which I think is b/c he was around my mom who had

bronchitis. But he's doing fine! Anyway, here is what I have...

There was just an article in our newspaper about the stupid chicken pox

vax. My mom briefly paraphrased it to me. Basically it said that if every

child gets the vax, chicken pox would be eradicated. Please! Anyway, in the

letters to the editor the following night, a local (childless) chiropractor

wrote about this issue. He didn't mention the dangers, but did mention,

quite nicely, how vax don't necessarily confer immunity. Maybe you know

this, but I was unaware, that NY assemblyman Sam introduced bill

A4276 - " Conscientious Objection to Immunizations " , which would allow

philosophical exemptions to vax. To voice your support, you can call

assemblyman Marty Luster (I don't know how this assembly thing works - is

he just Cortland area or what?) at 518.455.5444, fax him at 518.455.4640,

or email him at lusterm@...

Hope that this isn't a repost. If it is, I apologize. Hopefully, we can

get a philosophical exemption here!!

Steph

Stay-at-home mom to Liam Gaelen, home waterbirth 3/19/2000