Stolen Freedoms Regained in Stunning Blow to State Lawmakers

Story at-a-glance

• Since 1982, NVIC’s mission has been to prevent vaccine injuries and deaths through public education and we have defended without compromise the ethical principle of informed consent to medical risk-taking, which is a human right
• NVIC is giving their 2012 Health Liberty Award to the independent-thinking, high spirited citizens of Vermont, who in January successfully defended their informed consent rights by intelligently and responsibly participating in the democratic process, defeating Vermont Senate bill S199, which would have eliminated the philosophical exemption to vaccination
• The battle to protect vaccine freedom of choice continues. In California, Assemblyman Richard Pan, M.D. has introduced a bill to impose restrictions on the personal belief exemption to vaccination, which was passed by the Assembly and is rapidly moving through the Senate. The California bill (AB2109) will force parents, who are filing a personal belief exemption for children to attend school, to pay a medical doctor or other designated medical practitioner

Video:  Vermonters Defend Health Liberty & Vaccine Choices, June 19, 2012

By Barbara Loe Fisher

This month, the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) joins with our Health Liberty partners to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the founding of the Health Liberty Coalition by Mercola.com.

For many years, NVIC and the non-profit Consumers for Dental Choice, Organic Consumers Association (OCA), Fluoride Action Network (FAN) and Institute for Responsible Technology have each worked to protect human health through public education and informed choice advocacy.ⁱ

At the heart of Health Liberty is respect for the informed consent and precautionary principles, which together serve as an ethical foundation for protecting consumer rights and ensuring product safety.

Whether it is the freedom to eat food that has not been genetically modified, drink water without fluoride in it, make voluntary vaccine choices, have access to affordable mercury free dental amalgams, or exercise the right to choose safer medical tests and options for healing and staying well, the partners of the Health Liberty coalition founded by Mercola.com are committed to protecting the consumer's right to know and freedom to choose.

Defending Informed Consent to Vaccination

Since 1982, NVIC's mission has been to prevent vaccine injuries and deaths through public education and we have defended without compromise the ethical principle of informed consent to medical risk-taking, which is a human right.ⁱⁱ

The consumer's right to know and freedom to make voluntary vaccine choices serves as a vital counterweight to lack of transparency and unchecked profit-making by pharmaceutical corporations shielded from civil liability for selling a growing list of vaccines that medical doctors and government officials insist every American should be legally required to buy and use.

This year, we are celebrating an awakening among Americans, who are rediscovering the power they individually have to make a difference by participating in the democratic process. That power was exercised in Vermont this year, when parents and enlightened health care professionals joined together to face down wealthy Pharma-funded medical trade lobbyists and influential state public health employees trying to take away the philosophical exemption to vaccination.

Health Liberty Award Goes to Citizens of Vermont

That is why NVIC is giving our 2012 Health Liberty Award to the independent-thinking, high spirited citizens of Vermont, who quickly organized this past January and successfully defended their informed consent rights by intelligently and responsibly participating in the democratic process.

For the past two years, the state of Vermont has been ranked as the number one "healthiest" state.ⁱⁱⁱ Only 360 school children in Vermont had philosophical exemptions on file during the 2010-2011 school year,^iv and we don't know how many parents filed a philosophical exemption because they could not find a pediatrician to write a medical exemption for their child. ^v Most pediatricians refuse to write medical exemptions because, in 2012, almost no vaccine reaction symptom or medical condition qualifies as an official reason to exempt a child medically. ^{vi, vii,}

But, even though only 360 school children in Vermont were exempted from vaccination for philosophical belief reasons, that did not stop the Pharma/Medical Trade lobby from attacking the legal right for Vermonters to obtain a non-medical exemption to vaccination for their children. Clearly, they thought it would be easy to quickly ram anti-informed consent legislation through the Vermont legislature.

What they didn't count on was outraged Vermonters defending their right to know and freedom to choose.^viii The legislative attack on the philosophical exemption to vaccination in Vermont generated heated political debate, national publicity and, in the end, was not only defeated but gave birth to a new public consciousness about what it takes to defend health liberty. As one of the bill's primary sponsors admitted: "I never thought this would turn into the mess it turned into."

Powerful Doctors Push Eliminating Personal Belief Exemption

The bill to eliminate the philosophical exemption to vaccination in Vermont (S199) was introduced on Jan. 3, 2012 in the state Senate^ix by Kevin Mullin (R-Rutland), who is VT chair of the Pharma-funded American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).^x It was introduced in the state House by Representative George Till, M.D. (D-Chittenden), at the request of Harry Chen, M.D., Vermont's Health Commissioner. Dr. Chen was a Vermont state representative and former chair of the Vermont House Health Care Committee for four years and has publicly downplayed vaccine risks.^xi

The bill was supported by the VT Dept. of Health and many medical trade associations and special interest groups, including those that receive money from pharmaceutical corporations selling vaccines in the U.S., such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), March of Dimes, Every Child by Two and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

After S199 was quickly rammed through the Senate without a public hearing and passed with a nearly unanimous 25-4 vote, Vermont parents quickly organized and founded the Vermont Coalition for Vaccine Choice.^xii The new Coalition's co-founder, Jennifer Stella, volunteered to be NVIC's Vermont state director and work with Dawn Richardson, NVIC's Director of Advocacy, who led a seven-year effort to obtain conscientious belief exemption to vaccination in Texas in 2003 and manages the online NVIC Advocacy Portal to educate citizens about how to become effective vaccine choice advocates."

By the end of February, the parents of seven-year old Kaylynne Matten, who died in Vermont after a routine flu shot in December 2011, began speaking out about the need to keep the philosophical exemption intact.

To learn more, please watch the following video^xiii, which includes an interview with Kaylynne's parents.

Video: Vermont Parents Defend Vaccine Exemption Rights, February 21, 2012

By March 15, the newly formed Vermont Coalition for Vaccine Choice held a public demonstration in Montpelier, the state Capitol.^xiv The Vermont Coalition founders created a website and Facebook page and secured 1500 signatures on a petition opposing the bill.

After Vermont parents protested that the VT Senate had held no public hearings on the bill, House hearings were held March 21 evening meeting was packed with Vermont families and health professionals opposing the bill.^xv

Bill Rammed Through in the Senate

An amended version of S199 retaining the philosophical exemption was overwhelmingly approved by the full House on April 13.^xvi While the amended version kept the philosophical exemption intact, it required parents to review vaccine benefit information and sign a statement every year acknowledging that taking the exemption will pose a risk to the health of their child and society.

On April 30, a specially appointed House and Senate Conference Committee was created. The Committee voted to keep the philosophical exemption unless the statewide vaccination rate drops below 90 percent for pertussis and MMR vaccine and, then, the Health Commissioner would suspend the philosophical exemption for those vaccines. ^xvii,xviii

The Vermont Coalition for Vaccination Choice and NVIC opposed the compromise. Jennifer Stella commented: "It basically says that only 10 percent of Vermonters get to use that right."

On May 3, behind the scenes modifications to the bill were made that removed the 90 percent vaccination rate cap and kept the philosophical exemption intact. However, the language, which forces parents to sign a statement that they agree that taking the exemption endangers their child and society, remained in the bill.

In addition, a "feasibility study" was added by bill supporters to pave the way for teachers and all school personnel to be required to show proof they are up-to-date on all government recommended vaccines in order to stay employed.

Philosophical Exemption Saved, Bill Signed by Governor

Without public hearings on the amended bill, it passed the House with a nearly unanimous 133-6 vote on May 3. On May 5, the Senate followed suit with a 20-5 vote and the bill was signed by Governor Peter Shumlin on May 16.

It was a victory for Vermont parents, who saved the exemption. Tom McLeod, a key member of the Vermont Coalition for Vaccine Choice, observed that "The most dangerous place in the woods is between a mother bear and her cubs." ^xix

The philosophical exemption to vaccination was saved because enough citizens in Vermont woke up to the very real threat posed by multi-national corporations, which have no restrictions on the aggressive marketing of liability-free vaccine products they want every American to be legally required to buy and use. Once Vermonters saw the threat, they did not sit back and let their informed consent rights be taken from them. Because they fought for their health liberty, they became an inspiration to all Americans, who want to be free to make informed, voluntary health choices.

Battle for Vaccine Choice Being Waged in Other States

The battle to protect vaccine freedom of choice in Vermont is not over, and it continues in states like West Virginia, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and others. In California, a pediatrician legislator, Assemblyman Richard Pan, M.D., introduced a bill in February to impose restrictions on the personal belief exemption to vaccination and it was quickly passed by the Assembly and is rapidly moving through the Senate.

The California bill (AB2109) will force parents, who are filing a personal belief exemption for children to attend school, to pay a medical doctor or other designated medical practitioner (D.O., medical assistant, nurse practitioner or N.D. under the supervision of an M.D.) for an appointment to have the personal belief exemption form signed. Without a medical provider signature, the personal belief exemption form will not be valid and the child will be barred from attending school.

Watch an NVIC public service message about California Assembly bill AB2109.

 

Video: Defend CA Vaccine Exemptions - Oppose AB 2109

 

Watch a public hearing on the CA bill.

Video:  CA Health Committee Hearing on Vaccine Exemption Bill AB2109 April 27, 2012 Part 1

Empower Yourself with Information and Take Action Now!

NVIC was on the front lines defending health liberty in 2011, as we have been for 30 years:

• Co-sponsoring an online annual Vaccine Awareness Week with Mercola.com;^{xx, xxi}
• Sponsoring informed choice messages on Delta Airlines^xxii,xxiiiand in Times Square;^xxivxxv
• Operating the oldest and largest vaccine safety and choice information website on the Internet and daily educating 35,000 Fans on Facebook;
• Serving as America's vaccine safety watchdog by monitoring and reporting on vaccine science,^xvi regulation,^xxvii policymaking ^xxviii,xxixand law^xxx through e-newsletters, press releases, referenced commentaries^xxxi,xxxiiand special reports.^xxxiii

You can be a vaccine safety and choice advocate today by becoming a user of the free online NVIC Advocacy Portal and participating in the democratic process. Go to www.NVICAdvocacy.org and use the Portal to contact your legislators with the touch of an iPhone screen or click of a computer mouse and make your voice heard.

Be part of the growing, state-based national network of concerned families and health care professionals working with NVIC and Mercola.com to protect vaccine choices in America. If we all fight for the consumer's right to know and freedom to choose, we can win back health liberty in the states, where it has been lost, and protect it in states, like Vermont, where citizens care enough and are brave enough to stand their ground.

Our mission continues: No forced vaccination. Not in America.

References:

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Dr. Mercola

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Technorati Tags: vaccines,vaccinations,immunizations,childhood immunizations,parental rights,shots,Autism,MMR,H1N1,watch the other hand,depopulation,HPV vaccine,Mr. Mercola,Robert F. Kennedy,Merck,United Nations,ObamaCare,freedoms,NVIC,Vermont,National Vaccination Information Center

Katie Couric Reports on Serious Vaccine Safety Issues – Finally!!

There are new concerns about Gardasil, the vaccine that prevents a virus that may cause cervical cancer.

What makes this new information even more compelling is that Spain actually withdrew 75, 000 doses of the vaccine from their market just last week.

The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) has compared Gardasil adverse events to the meningitis vaccine; Gardasil injections resulted in three times the number of Emergency Room visits -- more than 5,000. Reports of side effects were up to 30 times higher with Gardasil.

Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder of the NVIC, said,

"Now we know from this report that there are more reactions and deaths associated with Gardasil than with another vaccine given in the same age group. It's irresponsible not to take action."

We are also proud to announce a joint collaboration with NVIC, and after many months of intensive effort they have a new site up that will allow them to serve as the premier source of vaccine safety information.

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Over 10,000 adverse reactions, including 27 deaths, have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) in relation to Gardasil. Yet, the CDC and FDA are alleging that the vast majority, or even ALL, of these cases are unrelated to the vaccine. Therefore, they claim, Gardasil is safe.

Says Barbara Loe Fisher, President and co-founder of the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC):

“The tragic story of Gardasil vaccine is one that is playing out real time in the homes of trusting parents, who thought they were doing the right thing to try to make their daughters "one less," and in the 21st century cyberspace forum of public opinion as well as on television.”

The Gardasil vaccine is one of the most blatant deceptions going on in modern medicine. Well-meaning mothers are being deceived into thinking this shot will protect their daughters from cervical cancer, and some of them are now wondering HOW and WHY their young child died or became suddenly paralyzed.

NVIC Petitions White House and Congress to Investigate Gardasil

On February 9, the NVIC launched a petition and issued a national press release calling on President Barack Obama, his Administration and Congress, to investigate the fast track licensure and universal use recommendation of Gardasil in 2006, and the dismissal of more than 10,000 reports of Gardasil-related reactions, injuries and deaths to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System as a "coincidence" by federal health officials.
NVIC's latest Gardasil risk report, which compares the number and severity of adverse events reported to VAERS through November 30, 2008, reveals that death and serious health problems such as stroke, blood clots, cardiac arrest, seizures, fainting, lupus and rechallenge cases are reported three to 30 times more frequently after Gardasil vaccination than after meningococcal (Menactra) vaccination.
Barbara Loe Fisher explains the significance of this fact:

“If the deaths and serious injuries reported after Gardasil were only a "coincidence," there would be little or no difference between the frequency and severity of vaccine-related adverse events between two vaccines, if the vaccines were equally reactive, and the number of doses were roughly the same.
Gardasil and Menactra vaccines were licensed within a year of each other and recommended by the CDC for universal use in 11-12 year olds.

Although Menactra is given to boys and girls and has already been mandated in many states for high school and college entry, Gardasil is only given to girls and is not yet mandated.

Menatra is given as a one-dose series and, by February 25, 2008, the CDC reported that about 15.5 million doses of Menactra had been distributed in the U.S.. Gardasil is given in a three dose series and the CDC reported that, by July 2008, about 16 million doses had been distributed in the U.S.
This means that about 15 million doses of Menactra were given to about 15 million boys and/or girls and about 16 million doses of Gardasil - if every girl got three doses - were given to about five million girls.

It is individuals - not doses of vaccine - who collapse, convulse, become paralyzed, have heart attacks, develop lupus and other chronic health problems after being vaccinated. The fact that death and serious health problems are reported 3 to 30 times more frequently after Gardasil than after Menactra is highly significant and it is irresponsible for federal health officials and Merck to blow it off as unimportant.”

What Does Merck Have to Say About it?

It’s incomprehensible that the CDC, FDA, and Merck -- the makers of Gardasil – cannot see the facts presented in this VAERS analysis, and choose instead to cling to worn-out propaganda slogans and pre-written advertising messages that fly in the face of reason.

In the hours before the CBS News report shown above was broadcast, Merck addressed the differences between adverse events associated with Gardasil and Menactra as follows:

"It's important to remember that the proven benefit of GARDASIL is that it helps prevent cervical cancer caused by the two virus types responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.

Nothing is more important to Merck than the safety of our products and we carefully monitor the safety of GARDASIL on a routine basis. Experts at the FDA and CDC also continue to review data and, as recently as four months ago, said "GARDASIL continues to be safe and effective, and its benefits continue to outweigh its risks."

NVIC is not a medical organization and has a long history of raising concerns about vaccines that are in direct conflict with the opinion of leading medical experts. We encourage consumers to get reliable information about the safety of vaccines from www.cdc.gov."

Spain Already Removed the Vaccine

Spain has, as recently as last week, withdrawn 75, 000 doses of the HPV vaccine from their market, after two teenagers who received the shots were hospitalized.

Seems they weren’t as influenced by the drug company’s rhetoric as U.S. authorities, and are more concerned about the safety of their citizens.

Get Involved and Help Save the Daughters of This Nation

Says Fisher:

“In the past 27 years, the stories of death and brain damage that have been reported to the NVIC have never changed. Whether the vaccine victims are 15 months old or 15 years old, the stories are the same: a trusting parent took a bright, healthy child to a doctor for a routine vaccination and the child was never the same again.
The Gardasil vaccine was inappropriately fast tracked and licensed by the FDA and recommended by the CDC with too little attention paid to the reports of brain and immune system dysfunction that developed after vaccination in pre-licensure clinical trials.
That same cavalier attitude toward Gardasil-related deaths and serious health problems, which have been experienced by many girls and young women after licensure, is inexcusable.”

Most Americans have blindly placed their trust in the vaccine makers and in federal health agencies, whose responsibility is to ensure that drugs and vaccines licensed for public use are safe, effective and necessary.

However, over the years it has become very clear that those responsible for protecting your health are not looking out for your best interest and that of your children.

And if they won’t do it, then it is up to you and me to do it.

I urge you to sign the Investigate Gardasil Vaccine Risks Now! petition available on the http://www.NVIC.org web site that my team helped create for them.

If you believe strongly in NVIC's effort to inform the public about these types of issues, you can support their cause by making a donation of $25 or more to NVIC and receive a gift of Barbara's 2008 book Vaccines, Autism & Chronic Inflammation: The New Epidemic. Click HERE to make a donation.

You may also print out this NVIC flyer detailing how to recognize a vaccine reaction.
Says Fisher:

“In 2009, I have a sense of déjà vu as the story of Gardasil vaccine plays out real time. There are striking parallels between how those operating the mass vaccination system reacted in the 1980's to persistent reports that the DPT vaccine was harming more children than originally assumed, and the way they are reacting now to persistent reports that Gardasil is more reactive than it was originally assumed.

Assumption of safety is no substitute for proof of safety.

And turning away from human suffering in order to protect the status quo is not the way to run a government that needs the trust and support of the people.

In the 18th century, Queen Marie Antoinette looked down at a starving people pleading for bread to stay alive and said "Let them eat cake." It is time for everyone in government, industry and medicine to take a different approach to persistent reports of vaccine injuries and deaths or risk metaphorically suffering the same fate that ended the monarchy in France.

In the 21st century, today's peasants don't have pitchforks - they have laptops, desktops, smartphones and the internet.”

I strongly urge you to join in petitioning our new U.S. administration and Congress to take a close, hard look at the HPV vaccine, to end the needless suffering of tens of thousands of young, bright, innocent girls.

And, please, forward this important message to everyone you know by using the ‘Email this article to a friend’ button, located in the top left corner of this page.

And if you think these forced vaccines and unnecessary vaccine are bad now... just wait until ObamaCare is in Charge. Stop ObamaCare while we still can!!!

Posted: True Health is True Wealth

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