Status Report of the NJCVC
March 11, 2009
The NJ Assembly Health Committee met on March 9 in Trenton, as part of their regular meeting schedule. NJ Health Commissioner Heather Howard was invited to give testimony on the pending influx of stimulus money. Two NJCVC members attended the event to show support for vaccination choice and gave each committee member the following statement:
We don’t believe any additional money should be directed at vaccine programs until proof of the collective safety of vaccines is provided.- Our coalition now represents more than 10,000 NJ citizens who have signed our petition, and our mission is vaccination choice in NJ, not more vaccine programs.
- Many of our children were indeed kicked out of daycare/schools across NJ in January because they did not receive a flu shot. In fact, several of these children were denied medical exemptions and because of their concerns about vaccine reactions, chose to leave school rather than allow their children to be vaccinated with the flu shot.
Additionally, we shared a very recent and relevant article by Barbara Loe Fisher, NVIC, a member organization, explaining that American medical journals consistently publish only favorable vaccine study data, often from poorly designed studies.
We received positive feedback from most of the legislators and definitely made our presence known with our "NJ Needs Vaccination Choice" t-shirts!
March 3, 2009
After nearly 3 weeks of preventing children from attending preschool without their newly mandated flu vaccines (or a legal exemption), the NJ Health Department finally relaxed its deadline for compliance. Children were permitted to return to preschool if they were in compliance with all vaccine mandates (except the flu vaccine) as of February 3rd. The Health Department verbally cited thimerosal-free flu vaccine shortages as the reason for the revised schedule and is now ordering more vaccines from out of state, with plans to set up clinics around NJ.
On the legislative front, bills A260/S1071, allowing parents the right to a conscientious exemption to mandatory vaccinations, remain blatantly “stalled” in the Senate and Assembly Health Committees. A continued aggressive and consistent grassroots efforts is needed to obtain additional sponsors (even though we already have 38 between both houses), and to pressure the Health Committee chair people to put the bills up for a vote. Our objective, however, is to encourage members of both Health Committees to sponsor the bill prior to being put up for a vote. Our Letter Writing / Call In Kits are available to make the process of contacting individual legislators easy and efficient, so even people new to this issue can help us make a real difference. It is very important that legislators hear from constituents in their own district (remember, you voted them in; you can vote them out). If you have any questions about contacting your legislator and are willing to get more involved, please email us at: info@njvaccinationchoice.org
December 6, 2008
Take a look at the new page Straight from the State on our website, detailing the State's position on this issue so far and the NJCVC's progress with state officials.
December 1, 2008
Our Oct. 16 Rally in front of the Trenton Statehouse had over 700 attendees and drew national media attention. The speakers were fabulous, including several of our bill’s sponsors, however, our bill was eclipsed by the presidential election and failing economy.
An important deadline is approaching, however: as of January 15, it is unknown just how many NJ kids will be kept out of daycare & school for not getting their mandated flu shot. NJ needs Vaccination Choice more than ever. In December, several meetings are occurring to urge every last legislator to support our bill. A state-wide phone Call-In in early 2009 will add to the ways that we are raising our voice for vaccination choice.
Going back through 2008, explains NJCVC efforts to turn our bill into law:
After working to spread the word throughout the spring of 2008, our bill (A260/ S1071 Providing for Conscientious Exemption to Mandatory Immunizations) now has 34 co-sponsors- this is fantastic! The list of NJ elected officials supporting this bill includes members of both the Assembly and Senate, and is a diverse and bi-partisan group which demonstrates its broad appeal.
On June 4, several hundred New Jerseyans joined with over 8,000 people from all over the US to attend the "Green Our Vaccines" Rally in DC June 4, 2008. Click here for a full Trip Report.
On June 5, 2008, the NJ health committee on the Senate side held a hearing on our bill. Testifying on behalf of our Coalition were Dr. Lawrence Palevsky (Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, co-founder and President of the Holistic Pediatric Association), Sue Collins (Co-Founder of the New Jersey Alliance for Informed Choice in Vaccination NJAICV) & Barbara Flynn (Founder of NJ’s C.H.E.R.U.B.S Children Having Everyone Real Upset 'Bout Shots).. Many new facts were brought to the attention of the Committee, and each member received a considerable packet of information from us.
On June 18, 2008 radio talk show host Gary Null discussed vaccination choice, vaccine safety and conflicts of interest in regard to NJ and NY Vaccine mandates and exemption laws with NJCVC member, Sue Collins, along with Dr. Palvesky and Dr. Eisenstein. Download the MP3 or listen online.
The NJ Legislature broke for the summer the last week of June, with all legislators returning to full swing by early October. After months of working closely with legislators, we are looking once again to grassroots help from all around NJ. On Oct. 16, the day of the rally, we also have our second meeting scheduled with NJ Health Commissioner Heather Howard. Among other things, she will hear about the many folks contacting us having problems with our present exemptions in NJ, at the hands of her Health Department. Our bill is a “win-win” situation that remedies inconsistencies of the present system by implementing a single, standardized form for parents to submit indicating their choices.
The status of our bill is thus: in the Assembly, it is parked in the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee. Despite A260 having an impressive 24 Assembly sponsors out of 80 altogether, until the committee puts it up for a vote, we cannot pass “go.” We need to convince the Committee Chair Asm. Conaway to put it on the schedule by politely asking him and his committee colleagues to do so- likely several hundred times. In the Senate, our bill (identical bill, but different number S1071) has not yet been voted out of the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. While getting a hearing in this Senate committee in early June (this was a non-voting public hearing) was great, our bill still sits unmoving in that committee. We must urge those committee members to bring it up for a vote, to pass it out of their committee, and onto the floor. Next, floor votes are held by the full body, in each the Senate and the Assembly. Once it passes by a floor vote through both houses of the NJ Legislature, it ends up in the hands of the Governor, who must sign it into law. He told us in September 2008 that after the toll hikes, this is the issue about which he gets the most calls/letters from citizens. Keep up the pressure, everyone!
Folks from around NJ must continue to contact their legislators, sharing concerns and personal stories about why we need a conscientious exemption. Support the rally however you can, and plan to hear Coalition member Louise Kuo Habakus as she takes our message around the state with several upcoming talks making the case for Vaccination Choice in NJ. Come and bring everyone you know who wants to learn more!
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