West Virginians for Vaccination Exemption

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West Virginians for Vaccination Exemption
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WVVE/
Action Alert
February 11, 2003
 
SB 136, which would allow vaccination exemptions for good cause and religious convictions, has been assigned to a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee for further study.  During the 1.5 hour debate on February 5th, senators voiced concerns over loss of herd immunity, increased disease rates, and risk to unvaccinated immunocompromised children.  There were questions on why parents wouldn't want to vaccinate children, how many children really react poorly to vaccines, and which religious beliefs oppose vaccination.
 
It is important that subcommittee members hear from West Virginians who support vaccination exemptions.  Stories of vaccine injuries would be especially helpful to improve understanding of why parents want to be able to choose.  The senators can put a face to the numbers, as it were, and realize vaccine injuries are very real and happen amongst their constituents.  Personal accounts of religious or philosophical objections to vaccination would also be very helpful.
 
Other points that can be made include:
 
1.  Herd immunity is usually calculated at 95% of the population or less.  States that allow religious exemptions usually do not have more than 1% opting for exemptions.  Herd immunity would not be threatened.
2.  Other states that allow religious exemptions have not seen any increase in disease rates.
3.  Many outbreaks have been documented in highly vaccinated populations.  It is unfair to discriminate against unvaccinated children, when no one knows for sure if they are truly less protected any given situation.
4.  Vaccination is a medical procedure that carries risk of injury or death.  It is the parents' right to decide if they want to risk sacrificing their children's health for the public good.  (See the quote at the end of this post.)
 
Please contact the Subcommittee Members below as soon as possible.  They could meet as soon as next week.
 

1. [Chair] Sen. Evan Jenkins (D), Cabell County

Capitol phone:  357-7956

Capitol Office:   216W

Business phone:  925-0342

(also on Health & Human Resource Committee)  

[email protected]

2.  Sen. Michael Oliverio (D), Monongalia County

Capitol phone:  357-7919

Capitol office:  207W

Business phone 292-3339

(also on Education Committee)

[email protected]

3.  Sen. Lisa Smith (R), Putnam County

Capitol phone: 357-7843, 

Capitol office:  213W

Business phone  888-938-9398

(also on Health & Human Resource Committee)

[email protected]

 

Thank you for your voice on this issue.

 

Sincerely,

 

Helen Tucker

 

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"The Nuremberg Code explicitly rejects the moral argument that the creation of benefits for many justifies the sacrifice of the few. Every experiment, no matter how important or valuable, requires the express voluntary consent of the individual. The right of individuals to control their bodies trumps the interest of others in obtaining knowledge or benefits from them."
-- Bioethicist Arthur Caplan


 


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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.