They have a riht to a public school education if they want...the BOE or Health dept in times of outbreaks can bar them from school or quarantine the family if needed. I wonder with our large influx of illegal immigrants how many of them are bringing these diseases across the borders? Also why are these newer vaccines so short lasting then the vaccines of old?

So let me get this straight, your vaccinated kid is in jeopardy because someone else has a kids that goes to school with yours who isn't?

If they are sooo good, why do doctors require waivers to liability and their manufacturers secured the same from the Federal government. I don't have children, but its none of the governments business. period.

the only ones at increased risk are the ones who opted out of the vaccines, so, how does not taking a vaccine endanger those who have taken it?

Mike Sloan - that is a (unfortunately widespread) misconception. Vaccines have various rates of effectiveness for wide ranges of the population (such as different age groups) -- and there may be people where other medical factors (such as pregnancy) prevent immunization.

If people who could/should be immunized "opt out", they don't just create a health risk for themselves, they also become a carrier that can spread the disease to their loved ones, teachers, health-care workers and many other members of the community who either could NOT be immunized or for whom the vaccination is not fully effective.

This is not a "binary" situation - where ONLY those who opt out are at risk. Those who are allowed to opt out (for other than medical reasons) increase the risk for many others. That's why it's important to have everyone who CAN participate in immunization because it reduces the occurrences for many others.

Outbreaks commonly happen in children that are already vaccinated... Boosters are needed because a vaccine does not last for-ever, vaccines mutate the bug and it becomes stronger and more powerful. Research shows eradication started before the introduction of any vaccine and that was due to personal hygiene! I got Whooping Cough from the vaccine in the late 70's and am still suffering from the ill effects of that shot. My immune system was never the same after that, now I suffer daily from a auto-immune disease! Asthma is on the rise, largely due to the vaccines, you have to look at history and the CDC numbers. Follow the money and you will see the truth. Look at the incline of required vaccines of today VS just 10 years ago, triple the amount of required vaccines, then look at the cases of asthma, you will see dramatic increases of cases that correlate to the increases of vaccines. Which contain Aluminum, Bovine protein, Egg protein, Formaldehyde, Human protein and DNA (aborted fetal DNA), Mercury (Thimerosal), Mouse protein, Phenol red, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80 and Yeast protein.
You cannot blame the Dr.'s. Today the average medical doctor receives 3 hours or less training on nutrition despite the fact that our bodies are constructed entirely of what we eat and drink. Today's doctor receives much of his ongoing education from detail men. The detail man is the drug company salesman whose job it is to teach the doctor how to use the latest drugs.

So why did your child get sick if they had their vaccines? Hmmm...seems like a flawed system to me! If you were so sure that these vaccines worked then you would not care if mine was vaccinated because yours should be immune right? My child is not vaccinated and never will be. He does attend a private school and it is my full religious belief that he not be vaccinated so for you to sit there and say that they should not be allowed in public schools is outright discrimination. And you don't get to pick and chose the shots, so since you don't agree with the flu/pneumonia shots do you still give them to your child because you are told to do so? These diseases were already eradicating themselves before they vaccines became widely given to children, better water and sewer sanitation are what separates us from the other countries that are still ridden with these diseases. At what cost are you willing to go so that your child doesn't get the chicken pox or measles? I personally know a vaccine injured child, that was injured from the Dtap shot, only hours after his shot began having seizures every hour for about 3 weeks, while being in the hospital pumped full of steroids to stop them, They finally stopped and he was delayed in walking and every other mile stone, is in speech therapy and occupation therapy and has damage on the left side of his brain. Guess what his neurologist said caused it? Yep the Dtap shot, right from a doctors mouth.. There is your scientific evidence...

Protective Mom - I don't think you understand how science works. But thanks to you, I now understand why the US is ranking so poorly in math and science.

Oh Keith, please let me hear your medical background, I'm now intrigued by your education..

Keith, have you read the Simpsonwood Retreat transcripts? Because I have and once again you have doctors agreeing that shots cause problems and once again trying to cover it up and stamp it confidential so that the public can't get the hands on it, but parents don't accept bullying when it comes to the well being of their children, you must not be a parent, just another sheep in the "herd" I suppose.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2887572/Simpsonwood-Transcript20Searchable

Anti-vax may be a religion, but it's not the kind of religion that the Founders meant.
Your 4 year old who should have had the measles/mumps vaccine could give my baby measles or mumps, because my baby is too small for the vaccine.

There are kids who do have a medical issue (for instance those whose families have bad reaction to the pertussis vaccine) who *can't* get the vaccination; it doesn't make sense to compromise the community because some people believe fairy tales made up by doctors selling anti-vax 'treatments.'

Jenne, so I should put my child at risk for your child? If your child is too young to receive vaccines, then keep your child home away from the public until old enough to receive these vaccines you so strongly believe in. As for the ones that have the reactions and can't get anymore, well case and point. Bottom line is, a lot of things can kill you, do you drive your child in a car? Do you drink sodas and eat too much sugar that can give yourself diabetes? Do you eat too much butter and salt and give yourself high cholesterol or heart problems? Do you just eat too much period and make yourself obese? The point is until we quit letting Govn't tell us what we can and cannot do, then we are the property of them. This is my child that I had and that I pay for. My child NEVER gets sick, his cousins ( who are vaccinated) are constantly sick with something... The pure fact that with all of these pertussis outbreaks are going on and the fully vaccinated are the ones mostly catching it 80% of the cases should raise some eyebrows. The CDC's answer to this is well maybe we should just add an extra dose of the vaccine and the schedule, so you may be getting your wish and your newborn may be getting that Dtap shot sooner than you thought, hope his/her little immune system can handle those 3 extra shots being put into him/her...

This article mentions unfounded and false science on behalf of those that exercise their right of refusal, but what it doesn't mention is the omission of science on behalf of the medical and pharmaceutical community. For example, there are no studies demonstrating the safety of administering multiple vaccinations together. Nor is there information on the cumulative effects of vaccination ingredients. Shouldn't there be fear for accepting recommendations based on this omission of science? We are pleased to have the right to express our religious freedom, and in our state, we are having the discussion of accepting exemption for personal beliefs.
With regard to your child, I understand that the combination of his asthma status along with Whooping Cough could be very serious and is unfortunate; however, to say that this is solely because of those that are not vaccinated is an opinion not support by fact or science, and is not acceptable. For those that are vaccinated, you (hopefully) understood at the time that you decided to accept it that the immune response is artificial and not 100%. Read the insert that is in the product packaging—and if you don’t feel comfortable asking you family doctor for this information, look it up on the internet. In addition, vaccinations do not prevent you from being a carrier of a bacteria or virus (i.e. Whopping Cough); rather, it is to prevent you from expressing the bacteria or virus.

Vaccines should not be forced on people. How does this stimulate the medical and pharmaceutical community to produce better, safer ways to protect people? I respect your decision to vaccinate—it is your choice.
Speaking for myself, we make these decisions to protect our children. This is not the only mechanism to strengthen your immune system. We emphasize proper nutrition, among many other things. I respect my well researched, well thought out decision. We do not take this lightly, and do not take blind faith.
Your statement, “I do agree with the ones (vaccines for diseases) that are life threatening and for the most part were eradicated till all the exemptions came to be,” is false, and there is no doctor or public health official that would back this statement.

During the vote on S.B. 1759 Sen Sweeney filled in for Sen Vitale, who was not even present - and a vote was cast a vote. Sen Weinberg filled in for Sen Bunon, who was also NOT PRESENT for the hearing - and Sen Buono ran in, cast a vote and left. Sen Thompson cast a vote and left before the hearing started. Most of the votes against were cast by Senators who wwere not even present for testimony. Can a Senator fill in for another Senator and not be present?
Many people need to call Christy's office and complain about this as a matter of procedure. Perhaps this can help to keep this bill from moving forward. This is a clear violation of p[arental and religious rights and should not be presented as an addendum to an existing bill. It is not right.

When it comes ti endangering the public health so a few phonies of debunked studies not to give children shots they loose there choice.

Keith, who is dying? Where are you getting this generalisation from?

How may people have died due to vaccine exemptions? If you can answer that and give specific citations it would be appreciated. You are paraphrasing and spouting facts that are not true - sounds like something someone heard on 101.5 and parrot-repeated.
Now, let us consider some facts:
If your children are vaccinated why are you worrying about contracting a disease for which they were vaccinated?
Why do vaccine manufacturers publish a list of possible side-effects and issue warnings?
Does anyone know, for sure, what is causing an alarming rate of Autism, ADHD, auti-immuine disorders (arthritis-MS-Crohns Disease-Celiac Disease)?
When you can say for SURE what is happening in our environment that is triggering such a toxic load on our children than you can call other people loonies....

Karin - vaccines don't work for everybody. Depending on the vaccine, they can cover as much as 80% of those vaccinated. That means that even though many people received the vaccine, they could still contract the particular disease.

That's when the "herd immunity" comes into play. You can take a look at the herd immunity thresholds for various preventable diseases here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity

Keith..thanks. I am all for being part of the "herd" but I also value the religious freedom this country has. I for one can understand not wanting to use a vaccine that has aborted fetal tissue used in its making. I can also understand refusing a flu shot because there are better things out there to combat the flu then some mass produced shot. The bar for getting a religious exemption in this state is high enough in my opinion why they want parents to jump through more hoops then needed I do not understand. I as a parent prefer I make the choices for my children working with their doctors for what is best for them. I have seen that the government in health matters is not always looking out for the best interest of the people but for someones wallet.

Keith-you do know that wikipedia is not a reliable source right? It is a collection of what people want to post, not that is should be taken as fact. It is not accepted in the literary world.
Keep on believing everything you read on the net!

The flu shot is worthless. Everyone I know who gets it, also are the sickest-every year. I have an auto-immune disease and I don't even get the flu or colds as often, as I should be, I believe it is because I do not get these shots!

What do you base this on are you a doctor or just buy into urban legend nonsense?

Many doctors would recommend you don't drink alcohol, don't drink soft drinks, don't smoke, don't eat fast foods, don't eat processed foods, sleep at least 8 hours a night, exercise at least 30 minutes a day, etc - do you want all of that put into law at the expense of personal choices? People need to worry about themselves and their own families, and stop asking the government to boss everyone else around.

What if I think everybody who shares your opinion should go to jail? What would you think then? I know you think you know everything, but you don't.

There is more than one way to be healthy.

Today the average medical doctor receives 3 hours or less training on nutrition despite the fact that our bodies are constructed entirely of what we eat and drink. Today's doctor receives much of his ongoing education from detail men. The detail man is the drug company salesman whose job it is to teach the doctor how to use the latest drugs.

I think I will allow common sense help me with my medical decisions. I go to several dr.s many more than the normal, as I suffer from a chronic auto-immune disease, I get my tests done and make nutritional changes as needed. I have a dr. that has tested me for everything and we concluded that I am still suffering from the whooping cough shot I received in the late 70's. If you think injecting Aluminum, Bovine protein, Egg protein, Formaldehyde, Human protein and DNA (aborted fetal DNA), Mercury (Thimerosal), Mouse protein, Phenol red, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80 and Yeast protein into people is the answer that is your right. My right is to make a choice to not do that to myself or my babies anymore!

What an idiotic comment, if you feel this way then why don't you move yourself on over to Iran or Afghanistan please! I'm curious Mr. Ridgewooder, have you had all of your booster shots for all of these vaccines? The Dtap, MMR, Varicella, Flu, Pneumococcal, Hep A, Hep B, Meningococcal, Polio?

This is really the bottom line!! If vaccines did not gold line peoples pockets no one would even care about ramming them down other people's throats!

Actually, vaccines aren't really that large a percentage of pharma profits, mostly because many of them are no longer covered by patent. Tetanus shots are pennies a piece to the manufacturers-- cheaper than one day of anti-cholesterol drugs.

On the other hand, the doctor who published the study that claimed the 'MMR' vaccine caused rabies? He WAS making money off his 'alternative' treatments.

Outbreaks commonly happen in children that are already vaccinated... Boosters are needed because a vaccine does not last for-ever, vaccines mutate the bug and it becomes stronger and more powerful. Research shows eradication started before the introduction of any vaccine and that was due to personal hygiene! I got Whooping Cough from the vaccine in the late 70's and am still suffering from the ill effects of that shot. My immune system was never the same after that, now I suffer daily from a auto-immune disease! Look at the incline of required vaccines of today VS just 10 years ago, triple the amount of required vaccines, then look at the cases of childhood diseases, you will see dramatic increases of cases that correlate to the increases of vaccines. Which contain Aluminum, Bovine protein, Egg protein, Formaldehyde, Human protein and DNA, Mercury (Thimerosal), Mouse protein, Phenol red, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80 and Yeast protein.
You cannot blame the Dr.'s. Today the average medical doctor receives 3 hours or less training on nutrition despite the fact that our bodies are constructed entirely of what we eat and drink. Today's doctor receives much of his ongoing education from detail men. The detail man is the drug company salesman whose job it is to teach the doctor how to use the latest drugs.

I AM the parent of an autistic child. Autism has NOTHING to do with vaccinations, which have been around since the 1880's, and became a requirement for public schools starting in the 1930's. The epidemic of autism began in the 1990's, a century after children began being vaccinated for diseases. Obviously, something changed in the 1990's, but to expose your children to diseases that killed thousands because something happened incidental to vaccinations of infancy is to draw associations that are not only not credible, but have been disproven by the studies of thousands of children in the past two decades. How many of those unvaccinated children have spread a deadly disease that was unheard of since the 1950's to their families and classmates and chance others they encounter? Whooping cough kills infants exposed to it. That's FACT, not conjecture. And, one media figure, doctor or not, is not representative of anyone but himself. I vaccinated both my children - by the logic that blames autism on vaccinations, both of them should be autistic. The one that is, showed signs of it before she got her first vaccinations, and her doctors discounted my concerns by saying it was because she was a premie. The fact is no one knows what causes it. But we do know that unvaccinated children risk dying from diseases and spread them to others with poor immunity. And that's not conjecture, but FACT.

Dr. Oz is not always correct, just ask him.

Fred Mosca - just to clear up some facts.

There IS no "Canadian version of the CDC" - because they don't have one (a fact that is often lamented in Canada). The study you were referring to was done by the BCCDC of British Columbia, and other studies in other Canadian provinces.

The recent study did NOT find that people who had been given the H1N1 vaccine contracted MORE of the H1N1. Instead, there was a correlation found between people in Canada who had gotten the regular 2008/2009 seasonal flu shot, and the timing and severity of symptoms when they were infected in the SUBSEQUENT H1N1 pandemic. Oddly, this was NOT observed in other countries. In any case - there was "some" interplay where the people's bodies reacted differently if they had been vaccinated against various known strains and on top of that got infected with the pandemic strain.

The new study that you are referring to was done with FERRETS! And guess what that researcher / flu expert at the BCCDC recommends in her summary: flu shots! So, go listen to the expert you are citing - she certainly is NOT unwitting and uneducated in that subject matter!

So while there WAS an interesting correlation in Canada, which DOES require in depth research into the underlying causes to see what we can learn from that - there is no study that can say how many people never got infected (and how many of those would have died) if they had NOT gotten the seasonal flu shot.

Where do you get the idea that "rewards outweigh the risks" and for whom?

The autism that is environmentally caused, including through vaccinations is the regressive form, look it up

Autism, when present, is routinely diagnosed between ages 1 and 2 in all populations, vaccinated and unvaccinated. It's been that way for years. Moving vaccinations in Japan to age 4 didn't slow the rate of autism diagnosis-- it just separated the diagnosis in time from the vaccination.

I get all my booster shots on time. I even usually get my flu shot because my roommate gets flu really horribly. I've had most of my vaccinations already, because I got them when I was a kid; and I'm making sure my kid gets his. Just knowing that he has had his meningitis shot is worth it-- do you want to worry every time your kid gets a fever and says his neck hurts, he's going to wake up paraplegic?

Jenne, I have a cousin that was fully vaccinated for Meningitis and got meningitis so how would it make you feel the when you kid did say his neck hurt you thought "oh well he has had his vaccine he's fine" and then he became a paraplegic?
From the CDC read this study...after you infect yourself with the pertussis virus, you are the silent reservoir passing it along the infants...It is NOT proven that if you are vaccinted for pertussis that you won't pass it along to someone else. While you are at it, look up vaccine shedding..
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/5/00-0512_article.htm

So, Ed.....
If one's religion says that polygamy is legal, should we let the Government tell that that it's not?
If one's religion says that abortion is mandatory, should we let the Government tell them that it's not?
If one's religion says that human sacrifice is required, should we let the Government tell them that it's not?

We can keep going on and on....

The simple answer is that we put limits on all kinds of actions and behavior proscribed and permitted by religions all the time.

If however, you feel that you truly want to live in a place where no Government edict against a religion's dogma will ever be tolerated, perhaps you can travel to NYC and ask Ahmadinejad to take you home with him.

Agreed Ed, Keith that statement did nothing but prove our point. I think that it is you who needs the first class ticket to Iran with Ahmadinejad...ignorance is bliss I suppose. Reminds me of a great quote
First they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

Baba O'Riley, yes look at the other countries that don't have any kind of sanitation for their water or living standards like we do. Trying to compare our country to these third world countries and you come to the conclusion that the difference between us and them is that we have vaccines and they do not? What about the the extra 47,500 cases of vaccine induced Polio that paralyzed and killed these innocent people in India thanks to the Bill Gate Foundation in 2011? Polio will never be eradicated and neither will any of these other diseases as long as we continue to grow and create them in labs across the country along with injecting the viruses into our children!

With selective reading (or reporting) one can defend ANY point:

First - about the importance of Polio vaccination:
"The global campaign to eradicate polio began in 1988. Since then, naturally occurring cases worldwide have dropped to, at last count, around 650 in 2011."
That is down from 350,000 in 1988. But you only need to look at the U.S. and the success of the vaccine!

Yes, it is well established, that for 1 in about 2.7 million first doses, the live virus used in the oral vaccine can revert to an active form - but considering the alternative of hundreds of thousands of naturally occurring cases, the best choice for the public interest is straight forward.

Please note that complete excess in how some Indian states were proceeding:
"In states like Bihar where a child received up to FIFTY doses of OPV before he was 5 years old, the number of non-polio AFP was over 30/100000".
Some were administered up to 6 oral doses in ONE YEAR!

I have no idea where vaccines are not "readily available" considering we ship all the vaccines that are rejected in the west to African and Asian nations... But if you are referring to poor, war-ridden countries where children are dying, why don't we start with lack of nutrition, clean water and safe shelter, and THEN decide whether you need vaccines. Which countries where vaccines are not readily available HAVE clean water, excellent nutrition and stable employment?

Babe O'Riley, we would probably be right where we are now without vaccines.. think about this, how are we even alive if for a thousand years, there were no such things as vaccines? Because our ancestors fought off these diseases with the only kind of herd immunity, and that is natural herd immunity. The disease came, infected many, yes killed some, but then their immune systems fought it and then passed down the antibodies to fight it off from generation to generation. Most of the diseases that are vaccinated for, began to eradicate themselves before the vaccine was even introduced for it, please see chart
http://www.vaclib.org/sites/debate/images/image004.gif

Also I did receive my 22 childhood vaccines and never one since, now they receive 50 if you follow all of the vaccine schedule by 6 years old. My child is not vaccinated per our religious beliefs.

As far as good vs bad batches of the vaccines, the thing is that not one person is genetically made the same way, therefore one size fits all shots do not work. For anyone that carries a certain gene that can set off autism, an auto immune disease or any of the many things these vaccines has caused, it takes 1 time to set it off and your are now stuck with it for life. The idea of injecting our children with toxins and metals and adjuvants and thinking its the solution is in comprehendible.

Interesting points, but your thinking is flawed in some areas. Same point aswithout vaccines!? Are you kidding!? Let us see how many people die of the HIV (virus) / AIDS before nature (the herd) takes over and cures it. I am still waiting for nature (the herd) to cure cancer (any type). The vaclib website reminds me of the Occupy websites; sorry.

For the fact that it is even mentioned as a possible adverse reaction, means that it was reported my multiple sources, not just 1 single person. If it makes you feel like a better person to say that I am ignorant and dangerous to make yourself sleep better at night because you are a sheep that does everything that he is told by the big bad Govn't because you might get in trouble if you don't, then so be it. But I can sleep at night knowing that I have done years of research on this subject and know both sides because I am not close minded. And once again, I don't care if anyone else vaccinates their child, as should they not care if mine is vaccinated, Because if your sweet little vaccines work and do their job then you don't have to worry about my child infecting yours. Period, End of story, you cannot refute that.

>> if your sweet little vaccines work and do their job then you don't have to worry about my child infecting yours. Period, End of story, you cannot refute that. <<

But that's precisely where you are wrong and what has already been refuted many times over -- it's just that you dismiss scientific facts whenever they are not convenient.

Ones personal immunization varies by personal factors, such as young/old age, other illnesses, compromised immune systems, etc. Some people have medical conditions (such as pregnancy) that prevents them from being vaccinated. The overall effectiveness of MANY vaccines for a population depends on its widespread depensation! It greatly reduces the risk of being infected for the vaccinated individual AND reduces the the number of people susceptible to an infection who would then infect those who could not receive the vaccine or for whom it was not fully effective.

Your "choice" effects many other who don't have one - which is why you can't be afforded that luxury -- unless you are willing to live in perfect isolation.

Cathi, I believe Thalidomide is a drug that was supposed to prevent or limit morning sickness; I do not think it is a vaccine. Fact check please.

Formaldehyde, thimerosal, and other chemicals are in vaccines...here check it out yourself....

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf