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)
ejenkins@mail.wvnet.edu
2. Sen. Michael Oliverio (D), Monongalia County
Capitol phone: 357-7919
Capitol office: 207W
Business phone 292-3339
(also on Education Committee)
cglagola@mail.wvnet.edu
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)
lisa@lisasmith.com
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