MMR Legislation in Louisiana Revisited

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MMR Legislation in Louisiana Revisited

Friday, May 28, 1999

[in a posting yesterday, we reported from the State News Service that the

MMR Legislation in Louisiana was killed by a margin of three votes. We have

some significant corrections to this report below.]

I wanted to respond to the article that went out about the bill because the

press incorrectly reported what happened. We amended the bill which would

basically do the following:

1) Inform parents of a choice to give the MMR all at once or separate

the three shots by one year a piece. In Louisiana, parents are not required

to vaccintate their children at all under RS 17:170 regardless of the

reason.

This would merely inform them of two different options should they choose

to

vaccinate.

2) Inform parents of the risks of each vaccination and each method of

vaccination.

3) Inform parents of the contraindications regarding each vaccination.

The bill was returned to the calendar, not killed, by only three votes

(49-46). They have buried this legislation under all of the other bills

that

they have to review by 6/21/99 at the end of the session. That way if

medical evidence does surface and show that the MMR causes problems in some

children, they can still say to their constituents that unfortunately...they

just couldn't get to that bill in time. And...they can keep the doctors and

pharmaceutical companies happy.

We are hoping that Rodney , Chairman of the Health Committee, will

hold to his word and begin a study on the subject which will allow us to

re-introduce the legislation next year so we don't have to wait until the

2001 session.

The little grass roots group of parents that we had down here went up

against

some giants and some big money. The opponents of the bill hired 12

lobbyists

at $60,000 each to kill the bill. We estimate that we spent around $100 for

copies, long distance phone calls and cell phone calls.

We came awfully close and we promoted awareness about the possible dangers

of

this vaccination.

If anyone would like to contact our state legislature and let them know how

they feel about their decision to return it to the calendar rather than hear

the debate, they can call (225) 342-6945 for the House Floor. Ask for the

Speaker of the House, Hunt Downer, Jr. or Assistant speaker " Peppi " Bruneau

or the sponsor of the bill " Kip " Holden.

Thanks so much for helping us alert other parents!

Aidan, , Liam and Mairin Reynolds

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editor: Lenny Schafer east coast editor: , Ph.D.

schafer@... CIJOHN@...

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