Eagle Forum of Illinois
PO Box 233
Oak Forest, IL 60452
708/687-4264
ILLINOIS IMMUNIZATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PLAN TO CONTINUE “CONFLICTS
OF INTEREST” THWARTED
Chicago, Illinois—Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee
(IAC) members emotionally responded when they learned of the content of
Illinois Senate Bill 1304 during its scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 12,
2001. SB 1304 is a bill that prevents
anyone that has significant financial ties with pharmaceutical companies that
manufacture vaccines from serving on the IAC. SB 1304 passed the Illinois General Assembly unanimously during
the Spring 2001 legislative session, and the bill is awaiting Governor George
Ryan’s promised signature.
During Thursday’s meeting, IAC members expressed outrage
at the impending qualification, calling it “ridiculous.” One of the infectious disease specialists on
the committee declared, “This legislation is un-American and un-democratic. It
is despicable!” He went on in his
rampage, “No infectious disease specialist will be able to serve on this
committee—we all take money from pharmaceutical companies!”
That statement led to Dr. Mark Rosenberg, President of the
Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, to make a motion that
the committee write a letter to Governor Ryan demanding that he veto the
legislation. During the committee’s
discussion on the motion, IAC committee member Fran Eaton objected and stated
that she would not participate in the letter writing.
Dr. Rosenberg called for a vote on his motion. Mrs. Eaton called for a quorum before the
vote. The Illinois Department of Public Health staff cited a need for nine
persons to vote. Mrs. Eaton then
questioned how many voting members were present. The staff answered, “Nine.”
Mrs. Eaton, opposing a letter from the committee to the
Governor, stood to her feet and said, “I’m excusing myself from this
meeting. Have a good day,” leaving the
IAC lacking a quorum, therefore the motion could have no vote. The letter cannot be sent from the committee
as an official letter.
As a member of the IAC, Mrs. Eaton, also State President
of Eagle Forum of Illinois, promoted SB 1304 in the spring legislative
session. The bill was sponsored by
State Senator Patrick O’Malley, now candidate for Governor in the 2002 Illinois
Republican Primary.
The next meeting for the Immunization Advisory Committee is not scheduled until October, 2001. Governor Ryan will act on SB 1304 before the October meeting, as mandated by Illinois law.
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