Letter from Dr. Sherri J. Tenpenny on the value of Vaccination News

Thank you, Sherri, for your welcome words of support. You, like many who use and support the site, have been courageously outspoken about the potential dangers of vaccines and I am grateful to you for that.

And although I heartily welcome any spotlight on the role Vaccination News has played in fighting vaccine mandates and promoting genuinely informed choice, I take strong exception to Colgrove’s characterization of Vaccination News, which presents ALL SIDES of the vaccination controversy, as being “anti-vaccination” (see mission statement).

Granted, my personal view is that the benefits of vaccines are over-rated and the risks generally unknown or unacknowledged. But if there is to be any meaning in the phrase “informed choice” and if I am to have any integrity in promoting it, I must stand for the rights of all parents, those who choose to vaccinate as well as those who do not.

So I must also thank you for providing the opportunity to clarify that point. – Sandy

I purchased a new book this week, "State of Immunity" by James Colgrove. It is an historical account of vaccination policy and how we came to have mandatory vaccination. On page 6 of the book, Vaccination News is mentioned:

"Those skeptical of vaccination, especially parents, have forcefully rejected the use of coercion. Their stance is succinctly captured by an anti-vaccination Internet site called Vaccination News, which declares itself to be 'against a parent, any parent, being forced to do something that has even a remote chance of harming their child.' This altitude exemplifies an important psychological phenomenon relevant to vaccination and risk: the preference for errors of omission over errors of commission." The web address, www.vaccinationnews.com is fully referenced in the book's endnotes.

Sandy has spent many, many years of devoted time putting together a library of information. There is nothing like this site, with so much information all in one place. Her tireless drive to educate the public about the hazards of vaccines is starting to pay off. The mention in a very mainstream book and the more than 1 million site visitors demonstrate how much progress has been made. Many thanks to your efforts, Sandy!

Vaccination News needs to continue. It cannot be replaced nor recreated. I urge everyone to support this site. If each visitor could contribute $5-10 per month, this valuable work can easily continue.

©Copyright 2007 by Vaccination News, A Non-Profit Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This content may be copied in full ONLY with copyright, contact, creation, authorship, and information intact (including all links), without specific permission, and ONLY when used in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Sandy Gottstein is required.

Return to Vaccination News Home Page (for best results, right click to "open in new window")

DISCLAIMER: 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.