Parents Speak Out For Vaccine Information & Choice

by Barbara Loe Fisher

http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com/
http://www.nvic.org/
http://www.standupbecounted.org/


An Information Revolution is underway in America and in many developed countries around the world. Affordable computers and the worldwide web are bringing new information into the homes of hundreds of millions of people while grassroots efforts to create community forums are also giving people of all ages an opportunity to become activist citizens. People are reaching out to each other in small and large public forums to talk about important health issues which affect their lives. Vaccine information is being communicated at conferences and in "town hall" meetings, where citizens are also organizing to insert legal protections in vaccine laws for the right to make informed, voluntary vaccination decisions.

On August 17, the Jackson chapter of theMississippi Vaccine Information Center held a meeting at a local library where neurosurgeon and wellness expert Russell Blaylock, M.D. spoke about the effects of vaccination on the developing brain. Mississippi is one of two states that only allows a medical exemption to vaccination and the group also discussed the importance of working to insert informed consent protections in state vaccine laws to provide for religious and conscientious/philosophical belief exemptions.

The Jackson meeting was attended by about 60 people and meetings in different parts of the state are held on a regular basis. Hattiesburg Mom, Kellie Bischof, founded the Mississippi Vaccine Information Center a year ago out of concern for the lack of informed consent protections in Mississippi vaccine laws. The group is affiliated with the National Vaccine Information Center and National Autism Association.

On August 27 at the Little Falls Women's Club in Little Falls, New Jersey and on September 4 at the Long Hill Township Public Library in Gillette, NJ, Louise Kuo Habakus will be giving a three hour evening seminar on making informed vaccination decisions. She is a wellness care professional and the mother of two young sons who had serious reactions to vaccines and were left with chronic health issues. Louise is conducting the vaccine information seminar series through the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice in support of insertion of a conscientious belief exemption in New Jersey vaccine laws. Her evening lectures will also be offered Sept. 10 in East Windsor and Oct. 1 in Highlands. Registration (space limited) is required for attendance (e-mail: vaxRSVP@verizon.net)

On Thursday, September 18 at Noon, the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice will sponsor a "Raise Your Voice for Vaccination Choice" rally in Trenton, New Jersey. Parents and their children will be gathering in front of the State House to demonstrate their support for the right to make informed, voluntary vaccination decisions.

The Coalition includes NVIC and other parent groups as members. The Coalition is the latest development in the several decade effort of parents in New Jersey to educate legislators about oppressive vaccine laws that began with the founding of an NVIC chapter in the 1980's now known as the New Jersey Alliance for Informed Choice in Vaccination (NJAICV) headed by longtime vaccine safety and choice activist Sue Collins. For more information and to register for the Sept. 18 rally, go to http://njvaccinationchoice.org/

On Sept. 26-28, 2008, the Saving Our Kids, Healing Our Planet National Expo will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Organized by Maureen McConnell, RN, formerly of Defeat Autism Now (DAN), the Expo will focus on good nutrition, creating healthy environments by limiting toxic exposures and other wellness options for raising healthier children. For more information, go to www.SOKHOP.com

On Saturday, October 18, I will be a keynote speaker at the Fifth Annual Natural Living Conference sponsored by the Holistic Moms Network (HMN) at the Sheraton Crossroads Hotel in Mahwah, New Jersey giving a presentation entitled "Vaccines & Chronic Illness: Staying Well in the New Epidemic." The HMN conference will also feature a presentation by author and environmentalist Annie B. Bond on "Easy Tips for a Green and Healthy Home." The one-day conference (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) will include sessions with parenting experts discussing stress and health; homeschooling, Eco-Action plans and good parenting strategies. For more information and to register (space limited), go to http://home.homewebs.com/hmnannualconference/

The grassroots vaccine safety and informed consent movement begun by parents of vaccine injured children in 1982 is gaining momentum in its third decade of parents educating other parents about the importance of making well informed vaccination decisions. A growing number of parents are understanding that making informed vaccination choices is part of learning how to provide children with healthier alternatives to dependence on the pharmaceutical model for staying well. Knowledge IS power and only an educated health care consumer can make wise decisions in the grocery store, the doctor's office or the ballot booth.

7 comments:

Knit Wit said...

I am glad to hear that their our parents in MS finally taking a stand on this law.

You see I was born and raised in a small town 30 miles south of MS capital city. My parents chose not to vaccinate me, my father didn't believe it in, he was a chiropractor. My parents had to fight to get me into school.This was in the mid 80's. I was eligible for a medical exemption due to certain food allergies.

I no longer live in that state, my husband is in the military. Considering my medical history we decided to do one vaccine at a time with our oldest child until she had a reaction to a vaccine with eggs as an ingredient. She has not recieved any more vaccines nor has our second child.

I hope there are enough informed parents in MS that will finally be able to get the laws changed in our favor so that some day we can return to live in our home state. As of now my children wouldnt be allowed to attend school there.

Thank you, thank you for this site and all the hard work you do by keeping parents informed on things that are as important as this.

Kristin said...

Hi! I am so glad to find your blog, as I am trying to research different vaccinations for our son. We don't plan to give him any vaccinations, but I do want to make sure there aren't any important ones that he may need to get. Anyhow, I just wanted to say thanks for all your research here!

Ren said...

I guess I could be a cynic and say something to the effect of, "I once got run over by a car, so now I'm speaking against traffic lights." But I feel that this is exactly the same argument being offered by folks who want to wipe out vaccine requirements in the light of a personal tragedy. Does the conspiracy between big pharma and the government really reach all corners of the earth and all the way back to Pasteur and Roux? I keep trying to understand the argument and find the reasoning for any kind of stance against vaccines to prevent the horrors of polio, pertussis, and even the flu. And I apologize sincerely for taking up space on your blog.

Anonymous said...

Ren-

You have a right to take as many vaccines as you wish.

By all means take two of each.

The folks on this board would not want to stop you.

However, with that said, the good folks like Barbara, myself and our children should NOT be forced by the government or any other group to be medicated WITHOUT our consent.

All we are advocating is are GOD given right to choose what we put in our veins.

Ren said...

John, can I please have your location... I'd like to go rescue you from being strapped down and forced to take vaccines, because that is how you are making it sound.

"Forcing" by the government comes in many forms. By this token, I should not be forced to pay taxes, or tolls at the roads. I should not be forced to stop at stop lights, or do any of the other things for the common good.

Look, we all enter into a societal agreement whereby we are all going to look after each other. One of these ways is by preventing the spread of disease through washing our hands, cooking our food, and being vaccinated. Things that you see as "forced", I see as "required" as part of being a member of society.

I again call for one, just one, peer-reviewed research study whereby vaccines are not for the common good. Thanks for your time.

kirstin said...

It's too bad you can't get the people who live off their TV and news papers (who are scared into getting vaccines) to just step back for a minute and try to quetion those athorites saying everyone MUST get vaccinated! People are always weakened by fear. That's why the pharm companies do so well. But I personally think that if there are going to be vaccines...there SHOULD be a right to chose to use them or not...and not be looked at as bad if you chose not to use them!

Anonymous said...

Im a young adultnow who went into seizures as a baby and ha da high fever from DTP. I Went unconscious and an ambulance had to be called. I have always felt sensitve and I never very strong. and like somethign was wrong with me. The standards of all pharmaceuticals &vaccines should be reevaluated PERIOD....for both chilrdren through adults. Alternative treatment should become mroe readily available so peopel know its there and see it as an option. Doctors lie but there someone on a bigger chair thats doing more lying.thank you for listening to me.


I have heard a lot of bad things from DTP and MMR...so I would stay away from these both.