N.J. Nears Mandated Preschool Flu Shots
December 17th, 2007Oh sure.
Via: AP:
New Jersey moved toward becoming the first state to require flu shots for preschoolers on Monday after a health advisory board backed new vaccine mandates over the opposition of worried parents.
The Public Health Council voted to require New Jersey children attending preschool or licensed day care to get annual flu shots, and to get three additional vaccines for youngsters starting Sept. 1, 2008.
…
Parents concerned about possible dangers of the new vaccines and government intrusion in family medical decisions have been trying to block the new shots.
They note that flu vaccines contain trace amounts of mercury, a toxic heavy metal, and that mercury-free shots can be difficult to obtain.
According to the CDC and other scientific groups, there’s no convincing evidence the trace amounts of mercury in flu shots cause harm.
Following the vote on Monday, concerned parents said they will keep urging support for a bill that would give parents a right to a “philosophical objection” to vaccine mandates, as many other states have.
The new vaccines will be available for free for low-income families through the federal Vaccines for Children program, and private insurers generally will cover the cost, Bresnitz said.
Does New Jersey not allow a religious exemption for vaccines? I went through the religious exemption thing in Kansas, and obtained the required religious exemption statement from the Christian Science Church–though there are several other religions that oppose vaccinations. I am not a member of any of these religious groups, however, and the school authorities made every possible effort to bully me into having my children vaccinated. First, they asked me to prove that I was an actual member of a church that opposed vaccinations. I pointed out that the state statute does not say that a person who refuses vaccines must be a member of any church, but must merely have a religious objection. I further pointed out to the school authorities that they could not even lawfully ask me my religion.
If possible, New Jersey parents should consider the religious exemption route. Who doesn’t have a religious objection to allowing harm to their children? Or to turning loose thieves and murderers to maim their children?