Posted on 12/14/2007 3:55:42 PM PST by Libloather
NJ requires flu shots for preschoolers
By LINDA A. JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer
TRENTON, N.J. --New Jersey on Friday became the first state to require flu shots for preschoolers, saying their developing immune systems and likelihood of spreading germs make them as vulnerable to complications as the elderly.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Fred M. Jacobs approved the requirement and three other vaccines for school children starting Sept. 1, 2008, over the objections of some parent groups.
The new requirements "will have a direct impact on reducing illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths in one of New Jersey's most vulnerable populations - our children," Jacobs said in a statement.
A health advisory board Monday backed the new requirements on a 5-2 vote with one abstention after parents said they worried about the safety of giving young children dozens of vaccine doses. Some also say they don't want government making their medical decisions.
Starting in September, all children attending preschool or licensed day care centers will have to get an annual flu shot, Jacobs said. That makes New Jersey the first state to require flu shots for preschoolers or older students, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
New Jersey also will require preschoolers to get a pneumococcal vaccine and sixth-graders to get vaccines against meningitis, which New Jersey already requires for college dormitory residents, and a booster shot against whooping cough, which in recent years has seen a resurgence blamed on waning potency of shots given to infants and preschoolers.
The four additional vaccines are recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups.
Some parents support proposed legislation that would give families a right to skip required immunizations by lodging a "philosophical objection," as some other states allow. The bill has been sitting in a committee without action for several years.
New Jersey does grant an automatic exemption on religious grounds and allows exemptions for medical reasons.
The new vaccines will be available for free for low-income families, and private insurers generally will cover the cost.
---
NJ health department site: http://www.state.nj.us/health
New Jersey Alliance for Informed Choice in Vaccination: http://www.NJAICV.org
Flu shots are not "vaccinations". They are unnecessary, and carry many times more health risk than any vaccination.
I bet the kids are doing very well scholastically, too.
As a medical professional, I just have to shake my head at this nonsense. If schools simply required all children to use Purell regularly in class, and barred symptomatic kids from school, they would cut all communicable spead by over 95%, and virtually eliminate ear infections in the process.
Not that I’m alleging anything, but it would be interesting to see how many campaign donations NJ lawmakers received from Sanofi, GSK, Roche, et al.
I second that allege that is not alleged.
Montag813 for NJ Governor!
Opting out
Children who do not attend preschool or day care will not be forced to receive the flu and bacterial pneumonia vaccinations. Nor will those who are enrolled in parochial school or who are home-schooled.
Parents may seek two types of exemptions.
• For a medical waiver, a licensed physician must certify that immunization would harm the child.
• For a religious waiver, a parent must certify that the vaccination would “conflict with the pupil’s exercise of bona fide religious tenets or practices.” The law does not allow a child to forgo immunization based solely on philosophical or moral grounds.
Source: N.J. Department of Health and Senior Services
It was not a false story.
Whether or not it was the vaccine that killed him, the fact of the matter is, he was seemingly healthy, he got the shot, he died.
Like any other vaccine, there are risks.
How many problems have there been with the mandated vaccines that contained Thimerosol?
I really don’t know. ....we’re talking my ex of 20 years.
They at least warn people now, not to get it if they are already under the weather.
I understand your point, I’ve been through it with my own Dr. AND his Cratchety Nurse Cratchet.
Whether the shot caused it, or triggered something else, he ‘coincidentally’ died shortly after getting a flu shot.
Coulda just been his time.
Still don’t like the idea of government mandating it for children.
I did not have children in highschool at the time and when the flu got around to us, my kids stayed home to recuperate but we still would catch several strains of flu in the same winter. We moved from there in ‘79 (Thank You God) but I read somewhere last year that Angleton Texas had the highest incident of flu in the state. They still haven’t figured it out and still are not getting flu shots, apparently.
bookmark for later ping
I was taking all kinds of vitamins & royal bee jelly etc but then my doctor told me to watch where my stuff was coming from, the China thing. So I stopped everything & I am waiting to be told when I can start the new interferon.
The military makes it mandatory that you have a flu shot. If it is good for the military than it is good for the general public.
What if they decide that every 11 year old girl has to get the HPV vaccine?
They are going to soon. I have talked to parents about this shot for girls. I only have sons so I don’t have to worry about it. Everytime the HPV vaccine comes up in conversation the parents with girls are cool with it. I don’t think this will be that big of issue for the majority of parents. Of course you always have people that boycott everthing.
And much less benefit also.
I will opt out on the HPV vaccine, I don’t think they know enough about it & when I asked my doctor about it for my daughter when she is old enough he said well maybe by then we will know more. I thought I recently heard it was back in the news for some reason but I just can’t remember why.
Tough choice that is for sure. I hope they have more info for when it is your daughters turn. Three boys and one more on the way (due May) is a blessing sometimes. We did want a boy but God is not ready to give us one at this point. Maybe after eight boys....lol.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.