Fwd: FW: [NVIC] NY Vaccine Ed Roundtable Mon. Dec. 15

December 12, 2008

NVIC Vaccine E-Newsletter

December 12, 2008

NY Philosophical Exemption To Be Discussed at Monday, Dec. 15 Vaccine

Education Roundtable on L.I.

by Barbara Loe Fisher

Assemblyman Marc Alessi (D-Wading River) is hosting a public

roundtable discussion on vaccination and proposed legislation (A.5468)

to allow parents a philosophical exemption to vaccination on Monday,

December 15, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stony Brook University's

Student Activities Center, Ballroom B. All sides of the vaccine debate

will be discussed by parents and physicians in a panel discussion.

Representatives from the New York State Department of Health and the

American Academy of Pediatrics, including Lou , M.D., will

participate on the panel along with Barbara Loe Fisher, of the

National Vaccine Information Center; New York pediatrician Lawrence

Palevsky, M.D., Gilmore, of Autism United, and Louise Kuo

Habakus, of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice.

New York state law requires children attending daycare and/or school

to receive 26 doses of 11 vaccines. New York pediatricians promote

adherence to the vaccine schedule recommended by the federal

government, which is 69 doses of 16 vaccines for girls and 66 doses of

15 vaccines for boys between birth and age 18. Often federal

guidelines are turned into state laws by state public health

officials. Neighboring state, New Jersey, requires the most

vaccinations of any state in the country: 35 doses of 13 vaccines. A

vaccine freedom rally supporting legislation to give New Jersey

parents the right to exercise conscientious belief exemption to

vaccination was held in Trenton in October.

New York law prohibits children from attending daycare or school

unless they can provide documented proof they have received every

state mandated vaccine or have filed and received approval from state

officials to exempt their children from vaccine requirements for

medical reasons or for deeply held religious beliefs. In 1987, the New

York State Supreme Court upheld the right of parents to file and

receive religious exemption to vaccination for personal, spiritual

beliefs which were not associated with an organized church or religion

(Sherr v Northport- E, Northport Union Free School Dist., 672F. Supp81

[ED NY 1987].)

Parents who have attempted to file medical or religious exemptions to

vaccination in New York continue to report that both exemptions can be

very difficult to obtain. Usually medical exemptions written by

physicians will not be accepted by state education and public health

officials unless the contraindications stated by physicians conform

with narrow guidelines approved by federal public health officials.

There have been cases of parents having appropriately filed religious

exemptions only to have them denied after New York state education

officials and attorneys have grilled parents for hours about the

sincerity of their religious beliefs.

Bayport mother of two, Rita Palma has had the religious exemption she

filed for her two sons rejected by New York. She is in the courts

right now fighting for her right to receive a religious exemption to

vaccination for her children and is still looking for legal

representation as she goes up against the State of New York.

In the U.S., all states provide for medical exemptions to vaccination

in vaccine laws; all but two (Mississippi and West Virginia) provide

for religious exemptions; and 18 provide for personal, philosophical

or conscientious belief exemptions. State vaccine laws and a map and

information on vaccine exemptions in different states can be found on

the website of the National Vaccine Information Center.

In a media advisory outlining why he is holding the Dec. 15 vaccine

education forum, leading sponsor of the philosophical exemption

legislation Assemblyman Alessi said " Parents are presented with a lot

of conflicting information regarding the consequences of certain

vaccines, leaving us with many unanswered questions about the basic

safety of New York's current vaccine programs. "

The roundtable discussion is open to the public. Seating in the room

is limited to about 175 people and is on a first come, first serve

basis. For more information, call 631-929-5540.

________________________________________

National Vaccine Information Center

NVIC E-News is a free service of the non-profit National Vaccine

Information Center and is supported through donations.

NVIC is funded through the financial support of its members and does

not receive any government subsidies. Barbara Loe Fisher, President

and Co- founder.

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December 12, 2008