OT: Urgent, Calls needed June 1 in NY to stop forced meningitis shots for 7th graders

[Guest guest]

Come to Albany on Tuesday, June 1, Stop

Mandatory Meningitis Shot for 7th Graders Stop Assembly Bill 10313 and Senate Bill 7156 This Tuesday, June 1, 2010 you need to get in the car and come to Albany to stop an effort to sneak through yet another mandatory vaccine in New York, this time for the meningococcal vaccine, for both seventh graders and college students. If you can't make it to Albany get on the phone, fax, and cicl on the link below to send an email to your legislators. http://capwiz.com/a-champ/issues/alert/?alertid=15089571 No

other state, or country requires, adolescents to get this shot. Only two states, New Jersey andConnecticut require it for college students, and that's only for students who live in dormitories. The State Senate may vote on this bill on Tuesday and it is on the agenda for the Assembly health committee. They are trying

to push this through before anyone knows what they are doing. Meningitis is an extremely rare disease affecting about 50 to 60 people per year in NY. And the meningitis vaccine, according to the manufacturer, isn't very effective. Assuming all the claims made by the manufacturer

are correct, vaccinating everyone in the state may reduce the number of infections by 10 to 20 cases per year. Yet according to the CDC the vaccine manufacturers 1% of the people who get the vaccines (about 2000 people per year) can

expect a serious adverse reaction including serious neurological damage and death. And study after study has determined that mandatory meningitis vaccines don't make economic sense; the money spent on other health care activities can save more lives and prevent more injuries. JOIN US IN ALBANY,

JUNE 1, at 10 am on the State Street steps of the Legislative Office Building . Handouts will be provided and we will help you find your legislators. Carpools are being organized. Email Rita Palma and Rudley at nyvaccinechoice@.... for more information. Please

call and fax the following legislators. All the prefixes are 518-455- ### Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, PH: 3791 FX: 5459Assembly Health Chair Gottfried, PH: 4941 FX: 5939Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, PH: 5005 FX: 5471 (Sponsor of the Assembly bill)Assemblywoman Amy in, PH: 5585 FX: 5409

(Co-sponsor of the Assembly bill) Sen. Tom Duane, PH: 2451 FX: 4846,

Chair of the Health CommitteeSen. Sampson, PH: 2758 FX: 4806, Senate Majority LeaderSen. Dean Skelos, PH: 3171 FX: 6950, Senate Minority LeaderSen. Malcolm , PH: 2701 FX: 2816,Sen. Tom Libous, PH: 2677 FX: 2065Sem. Velmanette Montgomery, PH: 3451, FX: 6854. (Sponsor of the Senate Bill) RAISE THESE POINTS! Stop Assembly Bill 10313 and Senate Bill 7156 Why should New York's seventh graders be the first in the world to be required to get this shot?Why the

extreme measure with no epidemic/ emergency?The shot is available now to those who want it- why the mandate?Do we have studies to show the case/ fatality rate(s) will be less with a mandate?Are there proven safety studies? Where?1,500 cases arise annually in the US- will this requirement harm more than it helps?Disease rate is low with no mandate. Are there other, and better, prevention measures?The shot does not prevent 100% of the strains yet gives a false sense of security.The law also repeals the requirement to educate the recipient with info on the shot.Will this cause our youngest and brightest to attend college out of state?NY is 9.2 billion dollars in debt. This will cost the taxpayer MILLION$$! Directions to the Capitol in Albany. The New York State Assembly chambers are located in the Capitol Building. Most Assembly offices are in the Capitol, Legislative Office Building and Agency Building 4. These buildings are all part of the Empire State Plaza complex in downtown Albany, New York. Driving DirectionsFrom the North: Take Interstate 87 (Northway) to Interstate 90 (East) exit, proceed east to Interstate 787and take Empire Plaza exit.From the South: Take New York State

Thruway (Interstate 87) to Exit 23 - straight through Toll Booth to Interstate 787, then take Empire Plaza exit.From the East: Take Interstate 90

and cross Hudson River. Take exit to Interstate 787 South, along

river. Take Empire Plaza exit.From the West: Take the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) to Exit 24 (Albany), proceed east

on Interstate 90 to Interstate 787 South, along river. Take Empire Plaza Exit.