Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Soungs like a letter-writing campaign should be started in NJ to urge Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt NOT to pull her support on the bill. On Sat, Aug 2, 2008 at 11:46 PM, Maracuja <howdurdago@...> wrote: > > A Needling Menace? > > South Jersey Magazine > @... > editor@... > http://www.southjersey.com/articles/?articleid=19292 > > > " I should have done a little more reading before I jumped on this bill, " she > admits, noting that since signing on she has discussed the issue in-depth > with family and friends. Her sister, a developmental pediatrician, also > directed Lampitt to dozens of safety studies on U.S.-licensed vaccinations. > > " I don't believe right now that quality assurance is an issue with most > vaccines, and I think the oversight is, for the most part, good, " she says. > " I'm worried about the impact this bill may have on society. If we allow > wide swaths of the population to opt out of vaccinations, we may devolve the > medical structure back to a day we don't want to be in. " > > Lampitt is shifting her focus toward legislation that would help the > so-called " greening " of immunizations, i.e., eliminating mercury from > vaccines and reducing manufacturers' use of other potentially hazardous > ingredients; enhancing the monitoring of vaccine reactions in order to > improve identification of contaminated batches; and establishing an > injection schedule based on patient age, weight and health, and family > history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Soungs like a letter-writing campaign should be started in NJ to urge Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt NOT to pull her support on the bill. On Sat, Aug 2, 2008 at 11:46 PM, Maracuja <howdurdago@...> wrote: > > A Needling Menace? > > South Jersey Magazine > @... > editor@... > http://www.southjersey.com/articles/?articleid=19292 > > > " I should have done a little more reading before I jumped on this bill, " she > admits, noting that since signing on she has discussed the issue in-depth > with family and friends. Her sister, a developmental pediatrician, also > directed Lampitt to dozens of safety studies on U.S.-licensed vaccinations. > > " I don't believe right now that quality assurance is an issue with most > vaccines, and I think the oversight is, for the most part, good, " she says. > " I'm worried about the impact this bill may have on society. If we allow > wide swaths of the population to opt out of vaccinations, we may devolve the > medical structure back to a day we don't want to be in. " > > Lampitt is shifting her focus toward legislation that would help the > so-called " greening " of immunizations, i.e., eliminating mercury from > vaccines and reducing manufacturers' use of other potentially hazardous > ingredients; enhancing the monitoring of vaccine reactions in order to > improve identification of contaminated batches; and establishing an > injection schedule based on patient age, weight and health, and family > history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Soungs like a letter-writing campaign should be started in NJ to urge Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt NOT to pull her support on bill A-260. A Needling Menace? South Jersey Magazine @... editor@... http://www.southjersey.com/articles/?articleid=19292 Having your child vaccinated should be a choice, say some area anti-inoculation activists and parents. But if you expect to send your infant or preschool-age child to a South Jersey daycare center next month, know this: New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services says come September 1, no shots, no school. It's a sound no mother ever wants to hear-an inconsolable child screaming in pain. For Walls of Cape May, that unforgettable cry went on for more than seven hours the day she took her two-month-old son to a pediatrician for his first round of vaccines. For a number of reasons, including the toxin levels in vaccines, Walls had been wary of the physician's recommendation to immunize her child. But, she felt pressured to make a decision on the spot, she says, and was told side effects to such vaccines are extremely rare in healthy infants like her son. The new mother began to anxiously question her decision to inoculate her son as she drove to her grandmother's house for lunch following the appointment, while the infant lay deep asleep in the car seat behind her. Her period of quiet reflection, however, was short-lived. As soon as she began taking him out of the car, the infant's quiet sleep exploded into high-pitched sobs. " The way he was screaming was definitely unnatural, " Walls says, her voice still cracking at the memory more than a year after the incident. " Hours later, he was still screaming. He was utterly inconsolable, and I was terrified. " According to Walls, the cries were so loud that she had to walk into her grandmother's backyard, away from the house, to call her physician's office. The medical professional on the other end of the line asked if her baby was fed, in need of changing, or just tired. But Walls, a physical therapist, was adamant that something outside the norm was wrong with her son-she'd done her research and knew the warning signs of a bad reaction to vaccination. " I want this documented, " she said shakily, praying her child would calm down. Eventually, he did, though his traumatized mother was still crying over the experience days later. And the trouble did not end there. Walls said her son no longer slept through the night and soon developed chronic ear aches. But, she contends, despite months of poor health following the vaccine, her son was " one of the lucky ones. " She believes the vaccine itself triggered her son's troubles, and has spent the last year researching the world's current immunization process. " What I learned horrified me, " she says, referring to the disease-preventative injections that many consider to be among the most important health advances in history. Walls is not alone. She is part of a groundswell of parents and legislators who believe vaccinating a child should be a choice, not a mandate. Grassroots groups, such as the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice (NJCVC), espouse opposition to government-imposed immunizations and believe parents have the right to informed consent regarding vaccinations for their children just as they do with other medical procedures. Many believe that childhood vaccines-some of which include the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal and other toxins-can trigger autism or other neurological disorders in certain infants (though medical and scientific communities have not found a definitive link between routine childhood vaccines and autism). They also say the list of medical risks in typical vaccine inserts underscores the need for parents to make their own decision. Members of parent networks around the state, like the NJCVC, have been rallying since the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services signed an order last December that mandates annual flu and pneumonia vaccines for children under 5 years old attending licensed day care or preschool, beginning Sept. 1. New Jersey is the first state to mandate flu shots for preschoolers. Sixth graders are targeted by two other vaccines this school year-one against a fast-killing strain of meningitis and the other a booster of the immunization against tetanus, pertussis and diphtheria. As New Jersey now mandates 34 vaccinations-more than anywhere else in the world-it has become a key battleground state in the vaccination choice movement. While doctors are prepping needles and telling school-bound kids, " It'll only pinch for a second, " this fall, two bills-A260 and S1071-are pending before the Assembly and Senate. They would provide parents a way to opt out of mandatory vaccinations by creating a conscientious belief exemption, which exists in other states but not in New Jersey. The identical bills are sponsored by Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervaulk (R-Bergen), who says mandating dozens of vaccines for young children is " mind-boggling when you look at the risks. " When explaining her position, she cites the nearly 5,000 cases currently sitting before the nation's Vaccine Court.. This jury-free division of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims administers a no-fault system for litigating vaccine-injury claims against the manufacturers, which cannot normally be filed in state or federal courts. The program was established-in addition to the VAERS reporting system (see sidebar)-by the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, passed in response to a threat to the immunization supply in the '80s due to a scare over the DPT vaccine. Despite the belief of most public health officials that claims of side effects were unfounded, large jury rewards were given to some plaintiffs, most DPT vaccine makers subsequently ceased production, and officials feared the loss of " herd immunity " -a type of immunity that occurs when the vaccination of a vast portion of the population provides protection for unvaccinated individuals. If passed in the upcoming legislative session, a conscientious belief exemption would join the state's long-standing medical and religious exemptions to vaccines. And more exemptions mean more people are apt to opt out of certain vaccines or immunization as a whole. According to Dr. Sharrar, Chief of Pediatrics at University Hospital, that could present a significant risk to public health in the region, with viruses more likely to spread through communities. " The major reason immunizations are successful is because of the large number of people who get them, " he says. " And the vast amount of people who get immunized protect the few people who do not. The world is very small. A person could be in India one day and 24 hours later they could be in South Jersey. There always exists a potential for exposure (to a contagious virus), " he adds. " It's risky for a child not to be immunized these days. " Like Sharrar, the DHSS believes the vaccines licensed and tested in the U.S. are safe and necessary. " It's highly preferable to vaccinate against diseases than to treat them, " notes spokeswoman Donna Leusner. " Broad exemptions to mandatory vaccinations weaken the entire enforcement structure. Immunization not only protects the children who get vaccinated, but the community in general-especially its most vulnerable populations, which are the very young and the elderly. " Leusner says New Jersey is particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases because of its high population density, large numbers of recently arrived immigrants, and its position as a well-traveled corridor state. " These factors help a disease to spread faster and they're why we believe it's important for the highest number of children possible to be vaccinated. " She adds that despite the fact that 19 other states allow conscientious exemptions to mandatory immunizations, New Jersey's government has long been opposed to broader exemption options. Balancing parental rights and public safety makes this issue a difficult one for lawmakers. Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt (D-Cherry Hill) signed on as a co-sponsor to bill A-260 earlier this year, but now finds herself wavering and may soon pull her support for the legislation. As a mother, Lampitt says, she was drawn to the issue because she believes parents should have the right to manage the health and well-being of their children. " I should have done a little more reading before I jumped on this bill, " she admits, noting that since signing on she has discussed the issue in-depth with family and friends. Her sister, a developmental pediatrician, also directed Lampitt to dozens of safety studies on U.S.-licensed vaccinations. " I don't believe right now that quality assurance is an issue with most vaccines, and I think the oversight is, for the most part, good, " she says. " I'm worried about the impact this bill may have on society. If we allow wide swaths of the population to opt out of vaccinations, we may devolve the medical structure back to a day we don't want to be in. " Lampitt is shifting her focus toward legislation that would help the so-called " greening " of immunizations, i.e., eliminating mercury from vaccines and reducing manufacturers' use of other potentially hazardous ingredients; enhancing the monitoring of vaccine reactions in order to improve identification of contaminated batches; and establishing an injection schedule based on patient age, weight and health, and family history. No legislation aimed at greening vaccines has been introduced in the State House as of yet, but many groups and individuals in support of a conscientious belief exemption marched on Washington June 4 in support of actress Jennie McCarthy's " Green our Vaccines " movement. Amy Galarowicz, of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice, says if a conscientious belief exemption is not established this fall, there will be a lot more pressure on legislators to enact a " green vaccine " law. In the meantime, a petition is circulating through the state that opposes the latest round of vaccine mandates from the DHHS and supports the passage of Vandervaulk's bill. It's garnered nearly 8,000 signatures so far, and " as more people express their interest in establishing a conscientious belief exemption to vaccine mandates, the more (lawmakers) will become interested in passing it, " the assemblywoman says. Here in South Jersey, Walls says she's busy hosting informational meetings in her home and working to make other parents aware of some of the risks vaccines present. Her son is healthy again, but Walls worries about the tough decisions she'll have to make as he grows closer to school-age. " I just don't believe that the science is in on vaccine safety at this point, " she says, citing a dearth in double-blind studies comparing children who have never been vaccinated with those who have been. " There also needs to be better dialogue between parents and physicians, with risks and (post-vaccination) red-flags clearly outlined. But, above all, there needs to be an informed choice for parents to make themselves regarding their families-it's not the Public Health Council or the DHHS that has to go home with vaccine-injured children. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 I was thinking the same thing. Winnie Re: A Needling Menace? Vaccinations > Soungs like a letter-writing campaign should be started in NJ to urge > Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt NOT to pull her support on the bill. > > > > > > > On Sat, Aug 2, 2008 at 11:46 PM, Maracuja > wrote:> > > A Needling Menace? > > > > South Jersey Magazine > > @... > > editor@... > > http://www.southjersey.com/articles/?articleid=19292 > > > > > > " I should have done a little more reading before I jumped on > this bill, " she > > admits, noting that since signing on she has discussed the > issue in-depth > > with family and friends. Her sister, a developmental > pediatrician, also > > directed Lampitt to dozens of safety studies on U.S.-licensed > vaccinations.> > > " I don't believe right now that quality assurance is an issue > with most > > vaccines, and I think the oversight is, for the most part, > good, " she says. > > " I'm worried about the impact this bill may have on society. > If we allow > > wide swaths of the population to opt out of vaccinations, we > may devolve the > > medical structure back to a day we don't want to be in. " > > > > Lampitt is shifting her focus toward legislation that would > help the > > so-called " greening " of immunizations, i.e., eliminating > mercury from > > vaccines and reducing manufacturers' use of other potentially > hazardous> ingredients; enhancing the monitoring of vaccine > reactions in order to > > improve identification of contaminated batches; and > establishing an > > injection schedule based on patient age, weight and health, > and family > > history. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 I was thinking the same thing. Winnie Re: A Needling Menace? Vaccinations > Soungs like a letter-writing campaign should be started in NJ to urge > Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt NOT to pull her support on the bill. > > > > > > > On Sat, Aug 2, 2008 at 11:46 PM, Maracuja > wrote:> > > A Needling Menace? > > > > South Jersey Magazine > > @... > > editor@... > > http://www.southjersey.com/articles/?articleid=19292 > > > > > > " I should have done a little more reading before I jumped on > this bill, " she > > admits, noting that since signing on she has discussed the > issue in-depth > > with family and friends. Her sister, a developmental > pediatrician, also > > directed Lampitt to dozens of safety studies on U.S.-licensed > vaccinations.> > > " I don't believe right now that quality assurance is an issue > with most > > vaccines, and I think the oversight is, for the most part, > good, " she says. > > " I'm worried about the impact this bill may have on society. > If we allow > > wide swaths of the population to opt out of vaccinations, we > may devolve the > > medical structure back to a day we don't want to be in. " > > > > Lampitt is shifting her focus toward legislation that would > help the > > so-called " greening " of immunizations, i.e., eliminating > mercury from > > vaccines and reducing manufacturers' use of other potentially > hazardous> ingredients; enhancing the monitoring of vaccine > reactions in order to > > improve identification of contaminated batches; and > establishing an > > injection schedule based on patient age, weight and health, > and family > > history. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Interesting how the doctors twist things to suit every circumstance. If this woman had a child with health problems, the doctor would have said it was even MORE important to get that baby vaccinated BECAUSE of his weaker immune system and the need to protect him from the awful diseases. They speak out of both sides of their mouths, whatever is convenient for them. Kay -----Original Message----- Walls had been wary of the physician's recommendation to immunize her child. But, she felt pressured to make a decision on the spot, she says, and WAS TOLD SIDE EFFECTS TO SUCH VACCINES ARE EXTREMELY RARE IN HEALTHY INFANTS LIKE HER SON. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Interesting how the doctors twist things to suit every circumstance. If this woman had a child with health problems, the doctor would have said it was even MORE important to get that baby vaccinated BECAUSE of his weaker immune system and the need to protect him from the awful diseases. They speak out of both sides of their mouths, whatever is convenient for them. Kay -----Original Message----- Walls had been wary of the physician's recommendation to immunize her child. But, she felt pressured to make a decision on the spot, she says, and WAS TOLD SIDE EFFECTS TO SUCH VACCINES ARE EXTREMELY RARE IN HEALTHY INFANTS LIKE HER SON. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 You're right. My friend's son almost died at birth and they told him just that. My friend refused all vaccines, knowing he was too weak. He is now 18 and very healthy. She recently ran into the nurse who tried to push the vaccines on her and told her she had never vaccinated him. The nurse was stunned at how healthy he is. Winnie RE: A Needling Menace? Vaccinations > Interesting how the doctors twist things to suit every > circumstance. If > this woman had a child with health problems, the doctor would > have said it > was even MORE important to get that baby vaccinated BECAUSE of > his weaker > immune system and the need to protect him from the awful > diseases. They > speak out of both sides of their mouths, whatever is convenient > for them. > > Kay > > -----Original Message----- > > Walls had been wary of the physician's recommendation to > immunize her child. > But, she felt pressured to make a decision on the spot, she > says, and WAS > TOLD SIDE EFFECTS TO SUCH VACCINES ARE EXTREMELY RARE IN HEALTHY > INFANTSLIKE HER SON. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 You're right. My friend's son almost died at birth and they told him just that. My friend refused all vaccines, knowing he was too weak. He is now 18 and very healthy. She recently ran into the nurse who tried to push the vaccines on her and told her she had never vaccinated him. The nurse was stunned at how healthy he is. Winnie RE: A Needling Menace? Vaccinations > Interesting how the doctors twist things to suit every > circumstance. If > this woman had a child with health problems, the doctor would > have said it > was even MORE important to get that baby vaccinated BECAUSE of > his weaker > immune system and the need to protect him from the awful > diseases. They > speak out of both sides of their mouths, whatever is convenient > for them. > > Kay > > -----Original Message----- > > Walls had been wary of the physician's recommendation to > immunize her child. > But, she felt pressured to make a decision on the spot, she > says, and WAS > TOLD SIDE EFFECTS TO SUCH VACCINES ARE EXTREMELY RARE IN HEALTHY > INFANTSLIKE HER SON. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 You have a very wise friend! Maybe she helped plant a seed about the " necessity " of vaccines in the mind of that nurse! Kay -----Original Message----- You're right. My friend's son almost died at birth and they told him just that. My friend refused all vaccines, knowing he was too weak. He is now 18 and very healthy. She recently ran into the nurse who tried to push the vaccines on her and told her she had never vaccinated him. The nurse was stunned at how healthy he is. Winnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 You have a very wise friend! Maybe she helped plant a seed about the " necessity " of vaccines in the mind of that nurse! Kay -----Original Message----- You're right. My friend's son almost died at birth and they told him just that. My friend refused all vaccines, knowing he was too weak. He is now 18 and very healthy. She recently ran into the nurse who tried to push the vaccines on her and told her she had never vaccinated him. The nurse was stunned at how healthy he is. Winnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 A good way to refuse all vaccinations is to just say:"Hey pal, don't needle me." Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 A good way to refuse all vaccinations is to just say:"Hey pal, don't needle me." Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 I'm sure there are some here who did look into in ahead of time and see for themselves, but for me it was reactions of relatives children that woke me up. I cancelled a 4 month appointment, I was going to spread them out over the 5 years before school. I'm just glad you did wake up, my relatives STILL haven't! Diane > > You and me both! :| > > Kay > > -----Original Message----- > > I am always amazed by those parents who look into vaccines before having > problems. Wish I would have thought of it. > > Winnie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.