For everyone,

    I had trouble finding the article on the rally on the Legislative Gazette website; however, I did obtain a copy of the newspaper.

    So, for your information--in the April 30,2001 edition there was an
article—

"Novello stresses need for infant immunizations." 

The article begins: "To mark Infant Immunization Week last week, state officials promoted a $200,000 campaign geared to educate about the importance of vaccination.  State Health Commissioner Antonia Novello announced the campaign last week at
the St. Peter's Family health Clinic in Albany" The lack of vaccination can permanently disable a child and end its life early," Novello said.  Although NY's child immunization rate is above the national level, Novello said the campaign will help improve the rates.
Steven Boyle, president and CEO of St. Peter's said that "immunization is a major part of health care... 

     The campaign drew a small crowd of parents protesting in front of the Capitol Building last week.  The group, headed by Bonnie Plumeri Franz, a parent and activist for 15 years who said it was too late for her oldest child who more than 20 years ago reacted to a vaccination with high fever and high pitch screaming, for not for today's parents who should have the right to choose whether to vaccinate.  "Why mandate a vaccine if children are not at risk to begin with," Franz said.  She said that diseases such as
Hepatitis B are more often than not contracted by drug use and sexually promiscuous people.  She adds that the problem with mandated vaccination is that "You don't know the harm, the hidden damage."  Franz and other parents were rallying in favor of more research into the effects of vaccination.  "Dr. Novello and I can say whatever we want, but please do the research," Franz said. Franz stated that some vaccines have
mercury levels much higher than those approved by the EPA.  She compared the recall of Firestone tires with mercury levels in some vaccines.  Franz asks consumers, "If you are upset about Firestone tires why not about mercury levels in vaccines?"

Franz quotes a 1991 Institute of Medicine report which she includes in a brochure she made and titled "13 reasons not to vaccinate."  The report states "Many of the population-based epidemiological studies are too small or have inadequate lengths of follow-up to have a reasonable chance of detecting true adverse effects unless these effects are large or occur promptly and consistently after vaccination…”

Kallann Manjunath, who also participated in Novello's announcement, said that it is vital to continue the spread of vaccination although there is a decline in threatening diseases...Manjunath added that a lot of parents continue to be resistant to infant vaccination and that it is a physician's job to talk to parents about the safety of vaccinations as well as provide the available facts...As stated by the NYS Department of
health, the program Vaccines for Children has provided more than 17 million doses of vaccine to children..."

    All in all, I think, Liliana Tavares, the reporter did a fine job of giving our side a fair presentation.  Please, SOMEBODY, follow-up with a letter to the editor:  [email protected]  so that our side can get in another reinforcement for lawmakers to see.  Also, a letter to the editor, focusing on OUR side, will be the primary focal point and not mixed in with the story that focused on Novello and more
funding for vaccinations.

 Thanks again to those who showed up.  It was a start and we did achieve something.
Bonnie

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.