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The following message concerning the pending chickenpox vaccination
legislation went out March 26, 1999 to all New York Assembly members (and, in slightly
edited form, to Senators) who have an Email address. See
Email lists
Dear ............,
Bill A04600, amending Public Health Law § 2164, would require chicken pox vaccination
of New York children. Many parents, including the undersigned, oppose this bill for the
following reasons:
1) Chicken pox is a mild disease which, when experienced, gives life-long immunity. At
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/fact/chickenp.htm you will find the Centers for Disease
Control document "Facts About Chickenpox (Varicella)," and in it this statement:
"Effective medications (e.g., acyclovir) are available to treat chickenpox in healthy
and immunocompromised persons."
2) Vaccination immunity against chickenpox will "wear off," leaving adults
vulnerable to a more serious attack. The CDC warns, "Adults are more likely to have a
more serious case of chickenpox with a higher rate of complications and death."
California's Pacificare Health Systems HMO chose not to recommend Varivax (the vaccine);
medical director Dr. William Osheroff said, "The real issue is all of the unanswered
questions about Varivax...This is a very benign disease in children, but the vaccine may
create a false sense of security as these kids get older and find themselves non-immune.
Chickenpox as an adult is a serious disease."
3) The government is trampling on our civil rights by forcing this unwarranted and
invasive medical procedure on our defenseless children. The FDA VAERS (Vaccine Adverse
Events Reporting System) first year surveillance of VARIVAX included over 1,500 reports -
76 were serious adverse reactions that included 2 deaths. Especially troubling is the fact
that the FDA has stated that fewer than 10% of serious adverse reactions and deaths
following vaccines are reported (and independent researchers cite lower rates).
We would not deny any parent the right to choose vaccination for their children if that
is their wish. However, given the concerns we have outlined above (and there are many
other arguments that reasonable people can make against this vaccine), are not our
concerns legitimate and our rights deserving of protection? Respectfully, we urge you to
call for PUBLIC HEARINGS on this bill and to examine carefully both sides of the issue
before you vote. If hearings are denied the public we call upon you to vote against this
bill and protect both our rights and the health of our children.
The Natural Immunity Information Network maintains a website at http://ffitz.com/niin/
which addresses questions of health and law. We invite you to take a stand on the issue of
Requiring the Vaccination of Children Against Chickenpox and we would like to publish your
views in a section entitled "Legislators Respond (and Some Don't)." We request
your answers the following questions:
1) Should the government have the right to force this procedure on our children? Why?
(or - Why not?)
2) Should parents, after examining the health issues regarding this vaccination, have
the right to refuse its application to their child(ren)? If not, why not?
3) Will you call for public hearings to be held on this bill? If not, why not?
We ask you to consider carefully your support for this measure and urge, at a minimum,
that you call for PUBLIC HEARINGS before action is taken on this bill. Your prompt
response to this message would be appreciated. (A response by Email to niin@ffitz.com is
preferred.)
Sincerely,
Deborah Monlux
Herb Ray
Donna Cooper
Jasmine Lisa Terry
Frank Fitzgerald
Martha Fitzgerald
Natural Immunity Information Network
PO Box 2090
Canal Street Station
New York, NY 10013
Return to Legislators Respond
Reach Out to Lawmakers
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