Texas Flu Vaccine Pilot Program

[Guest guest]

Pharmaceutical companies are generously sponsoring this flu vaccine

pilot program in Texas for the 2009-2010 school year. The local

news interviewed a parent of a vaccine injured ASD child last night,

but most of the segment was about how beneficial this school vaccine

program will be for low income families who could not otherwise

afford vaccines. School taxes will pay for the vaccines.

Here is the proposed flu vaccine pilot program for the 2009-2010

school year. Here are the details of this bill which may become an

act:

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/html/HB00506I.htm

Texas still allows for vaccine exemption if you have the notarized

vaccine exemption form on file for your children.

Here is a chart I found showing which vaccines are thimersol free on

the CDC website, and I have sent this to every school nurse, parent,

pediatrician and family that I know so that they can request the

safer brands.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaxsupply.htm

I took this chart to a popular grocery store pharmacy during their

flu shot fair, and the pharmacists said they did not carry the

thimersol-free brands yet were giving flu shots to children and

pregnant moms. Quite alarming.

My son is mercury toxic, so I will join other parents in Texas to

communicate our concerns. If anyone has experience with state

advocacy for a safe or staggered vaccine schedule, I would

appreciate your input. From past experience, we will not win this

battle if we are anti-vaccine (instead we will be labelled as crazy

and uneducated parents, as we have been already by a local

pediatrician who sits on the board of AAP).

Thanks,