Hearing Monday on NY right to a philosophical exemptions

[Guest guest]

Btw- I probably won’t be videotaping the event because the University has a bunch of insane rules that are over the top and I’m not going to sign their paperwork giving them rights to the video- especially since it’s NOT THEIR EVENT and I’m not getting paid. But, I will attend and post info about the meeting as soon as I can.

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Important Hearing on NY Vaccine Exemption Rights

More Info <http://capwiz.com/a-champ/issues/alert/?alertid=12304256 & queueid=2704690126>

Monday, Dec 15, 2008 Stony Brook, NY

The battle in New York to win the right to a philosophical exemption from state vaccine mandates begins in earnest on Monday with a public " Roundtable " meeting on Long Island hosted by Assemblymember Marc Alessi, the sponsor of legislation to give New Yorkers philosophical exemption rights and Assemblymember Gottfried, the powerful chair of the Assembly Health Committee. The meeting begins at 11 am and continues till 2 pm at Stony Brook University Student Activities Center, Ballroom B, comments from the public will be allowed.

The meeting is open to the public and supporters of vaccine rights are encouraged to attend. We want to make an impression on Gottfried who is a vaccine supporter but who knows that there are serious deficiencies with the current mandatory regime. Gottfried has sponsored his own bills that would prohibit school districts from making any inquiries about the religious beliefs of parents who apply for a religious exemption—some areas of New York are notorious for convening religious courts that grill parents for hours about their religious beliefs and practices, health history, diet and any other aspect of applicants’ lives. He has also sponsored legislation designed to stop health departments from investigating physicians who issue medical exemptions. Neither bill has passed. Gottried’s support could be extremely helpful in moving a religious exemption along.

Speakers for the bill included Barbara Loe Fisher of the National Vaccine Information Center, Larry Palevsky, MD of the Northport Wellness Center, Lousie Habakus of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccine Choice and Gilmore of Autism United and the Autism Action Network. Speakers in opposition to the philosophical exemption include Dale Morse, MD of the New York State Department of Health and the current chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the federal bureaucracy that creates the " recommended " vaccine schedule. Morse is also thought to be the mastermind behind last year’s " Worst Vaccine Bill Ever, " that would have made all vaccines approved by the ACIP mandatory for everyone according to the exact schedule laid down by the ACIP. In effect parents who even delayed vaccines could have been reported to child protective services.

Directions:

By Car- Take the Long Island Expressway (LIE, I-495) to exit 62, and follow Nicolls Road (Route 97) north for 9 miles. The main entrance to the University is on the left.

By Train- Take the Long Islnad Railroad to Port Jefferson line to Stony Brook. The LIRR station is at the north end of the campus; bus service to the central campus is provided. Trains to and from Penn generally require transfers at Jamaica or Huntington. Hicksville is also a transfer point on some lines.

Email Gilmore at jgilmore@... with questions.