Law on Flu Vaccinations May Be Tested

NY Times ^ | January 4, 2009 | DERRICK HENRY

[neverdem]

Evans/Associated Press
PROTEST Hundreds objected to the mandated flu vaccinations.

THE state’s new law requiring young children attending licensed pre-school and child care centers to get flu vaccinations will be tested this week when thousands of children return to classrooms and playrooms after the long holiday break.

New Jersey, the first state in the nation to require flu shots for young schoolchildren, set a Dec. 31 deadline for parents to obtain flu vaccinations for their children. It was part of a new policy requiring a total of four additional immunizations for schoolchildren over the objections of some parents who worry about possible risks from vaccinations.

The requirement applies to children between 6 months and 5 years who are attending licensed day care and preschool programs. State public health experts said that flu shots for young children are important for overall public health.

“Stopping flu transmission among kids will stop flu transmission in the community at large,” said Dr. Tina Tan, the state epidemiologist.

Health officials said they would not know until after the holiday how many children have met the requirement. The state relies on schools, preschools and day care centers to collect immunization records from parents and then forward the information...

--snip--

An advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that all children ages 6 months to 18 years should receive an annual flu shot.

In New Jersey, preschoolers are also required to get a vaccine against the germ that causes pneumonia. That vaccination was due at the beginning of the school year. Sixth graders are required to get a vaccine against meningitis and a booster against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Children who enroll in school after the new year, perhaps from other states or countries, must also be vaccinated...

[DevNet]

http://autism.about.com/b/2008/04/23/do-the-amish-vaccinate-indeed-they-do-and-their-autism-rates-may-be-lower.htm

[nmh]

I see your point. There are always those that will exploit the government for $$$ but I must say it is HIGHER in NJ than elsewhere.

[lainie]

100% agreement from here. No more flu shots for me or my kids either.

[sionnsar]

One of these days we're going to find out that our immune systems don't develop correctly as children without the normal exposure to things that exorcise it.

Did you mean "exercise"? BIG difference -- and there are some gays effectively into practicing what you referenced.

[Question_Assumptions]

My children haven't gotten any of the fetal cell line vaccines because I claim a religious exemption for them, which New Jersey allows (the objection must be specifically religious, not simply ethical or a matter of personal opinion). If Merck stops selling the Measles and Mumps components of the MMR individually, as they've said they are going to do (the Rubella component uses fetal cells), then my children won't be getting any of the MRR vaccines. You can find more information on New Jersey vaccine exemptions here. I personally could not honestly say that I religiously object to all vaccines but some parent do (I have friends who did this).

[JRandomFreeper]

Do you support the use of any vaccines?

Better question... What is the limit of any government to control the bodies of the citizens?

/johnny

[frogjerk]

I see your point. There are always those that will exploit the government for $$$ but I must say it is HIGHER in NJ than elsewhere.

You could be right. We also have a higher average of corrupt politicians, union bosses, school superintendents, etc...

This state needs an enema.

[Lady GOP]

Sorry to correct the previous post, children do not need flu immunization to attend elementary school. For that matter check out all the EXTRA shots given to preschoolers only good until they are about 4 years old. These shots are not REQUIRED for entrance into public school. Check your state Dept of Health website and research it for yourself.

[netmilsmom]

And my poor hubby. I talked him into it, thinking that they were a great idea.
His upper arm was sore for a month.

In the last three years we have had a few runny noses, some congested coughs and a few sneeze attacks. We had the first case of the “upsies” last week. We do just fine without this shot.

[Arizona Carolyn]

nationwide: 1 in 156

[nmh]

“Medical community claim there is no relationship between autism and massive immunization. Look up autism rate Amish on google.”

Well of course they are going to claim that. Yet they QUIETLY setttle suits outside of court.

“Several universities surveyed Amish communities and found their autism rate is 1/100 of non Amish rates. Amish in general do not immunize their kids at the rate we immunize our kids. No body is looking at these studies to draw a conclusion nor expand on them to get to a conclusion.”

That would be interesting to explore that. I have my doubts about that rate with the Amish. If anything the Pharms would be pestering them to shoot up. I truly doubt that 1/100 of Amish kids are autistic.

“If I were king for the day, I like to see a state in the US experiment by spreading the shot schedule out and another state eliminate shots for non life threatening illnesses and see what happens to the autism rate in their state.”

I think the best way to handle it is to let parents decide what they want to do and not coerce this through laws.

[Lady GOP]

If Merck stops selling the Measles and Mumps components of the MMR individually, as they've said they are going to do (the Rubella component uses fetal cells), then my children won't be getting any of the MRR vaccines.

There is a lot of controversy around this vaccine anyway. The interaction of these is thought to be what is causing autism. And I believe the Measles component is a live virus.

[hunter112]

The autism lobby has exceeded even the PETA types and the MADD mothers in it’s shrillness. Science doesn’t matter to them, the only thing that’s important is having somebody with deep pockets to blame.

[lainie]

Exactly my thinking. I got the worst flu of my life.. six days of fever 103+, after the last flu shot I received. If it’s not a guarantee, which it never could be, what’s the point of putting this unknown potentially harmful substance into my body? Because they’re giving them away ‘free’ at the Rite Aid pharmacy from 1-3 p.m.? I don’t think so.

[Lady GOP]

The link between autism and vaccines is not anything new. I had a friend who was a special ed teacher of autistic and she told me ten years ago there was a huge increase in the numbers of these kids entering schools. She said they thought it was due to the vaccines.

[Arizona Carolyn]

We have done homeopathic flu vaccination for ten years, no flu in ten years. They have all the vaccines available in this way. Each year we get it. It is the homeopathic version of each years flu shot. IMHO it is the chemicals in the shot rather than the vaccine.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[DevNet]

What is a “homeopathic flu vaccination”?

[netmilsmom]

>>I think the best way to handle it is to let parents decide what they want to do and not coerce this through laws.<<

To this I say “Amen!”.

Our homeschooling group still has “Chickenpox parties” so the kids are exposed and don’t have to get the shot.

The HPV shot is another that bugs me. I will not get it for my girls and I will tell them of the risk of cervical cancer with HPV, so keep your legs shut. At eighteen if they want it, that is their choice.

My niece just tested positive for HPV. I broke down and cried.

[netmilsmom]

>>Because they’re giving them away ‘free’ at the Rite Aid pharmacy from 1-3 p.m.? I don’t think so.<<

LOL!
Ya got that right!