NJ Flu-Shot Mandate for Preschoolers Draws Outcry

[ladywaterwind]

News Story:

As flu season approaches, many New Jersey parents are furious over a first-in-the-nation requirement that children get a flu shot in order to attend preschools and day-care centers. The decision should be the parents', not the state's, they contend.

Hundreds of parents and other activists rallied outside the New Jersey Statehouse on Thursday, decrying the policy and voicing support for a bill that would allow parents to opt out of mandatory vaccinations for their children.

"This is not an anti-vaccine rally — it's a freedom of choice rally," said one of the organizers, Louise Habakus. "This one-size-fits-all approach is really very anti-American."

New Jersey's policy was approved last December by the state's Public Health Council and is taking effect this fall. Children from 6 months to 5 years old who attend a child-care center or preschool have until Dec. 31 to receive the flu vaccine, along with a pneumococcal vaccine.

I've never given my daughter a flu vaccine. I don't believe she needs one with all the other shots and vaccines and boosters and junk drs and others keep saying she needs in her body. I'm sorry, I really stopped trusting that drs knew best when one month it's "get this rotovirus vaccine! works great, completely trustworthy, will really do her good to have it, etc etc" and then the next month visit it's "oh, well, we're not going to do that vaccine anymore cause, whoops, turns out it causes stomach problems, like eating away at intestines! our bad". I would be beyond livid that the state thinks it can say that my daughter has to have something injected into her body that I don't think is right for her.

[maree_strawberry]

These are almost worthless!!!

With all of the new Super Bugs popping up!!


Best defense - Wash your hands!!

...and wear a mask if you need to.

Who cares what you look like.

[melodyjg]

I've never given my daughter a flu vaccine. I don't believe she needs one

I wholeheartedly agree!!!

[sati769leigh]

my son is getting a flu vaccine this year only because he is now in the big pool! lOL last year he was in pre-school/early education. but now he is up against a LOT more kids. but it should be parental CHOICE! i refused to give him the chicken pox vaccine because well heck, hello? he already had it! LOL but they keep trying to push it!

[deeann7]

And here is another good reason not to take the jab
Flu Vaccines for Children Still Contain Mercury

For the past five years, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Public Health Service have joined forces in requesting the removal of all mercury-containing preservative thimerosal from vaccines. However, now for the first time, recommendations have been given to 6- to 23-month-old children to get annual flu vaccines and the recommendations didn’t include mercury-free forms of vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) reasoning behind this was that they felt the risk of contracting the flu and facing health complications greatly outweighed any of the potential risks from thimerosal in the vaccines. The CDC also stated that there hasn’t been any scientific evidence of harm from exposure to thimerosal-containing vaccines.(nor have they dis proved it)

Since the 1930s, thimerosal, which is filled with 49.6 percent mercury, has been used in vaccines to control bacteria and fungi.
Both parents and watchdog groups have shown increasing concern over the risks of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders as a result of being exposed to mercury. Opposition from other groups against the vaccine has motivated Congress to form a bill, which banned thimerosal from all vaccines.
Other experts said that the cost of mercury-free vaccines was higher than the thimerosal-containing vaccines and that a removal of thimerosal-containing vaccines could result in wasting one-third of the doses that have already been produced.
Although a major assessment of thimerosal didn’t prove or disprove any conclusive evidence on the safety of thimerosal, experts agreed that it should be removed from the vaccines recommended for infants, children and pregnant women.
One pediatrician stated that he planned on giving the flu vaccine to younger children, however would definitely choose the thimerosal-free vaccine over the thimerosal-containing vaccine.

You can read the whole article here

Flu Vaccines for Children Still Contain Mercury - Articles

[CoffeeMom]

My 6 month old got a flu shot today along with his other regularly scheduled vaccines. I can see where the state would want to require it, although I do believe the choice should ultimately be left to the parents.

[chellebyerly]

I dont get the flu vaccine for my kids, I did once. both kids got the flu about a month later.

I also refused the MMR this time on my youngest son. And have refused the chicken pox ones.

I know that illness' kill people every day, But I also think you can over vacinate. Look at the american indian. They had NO natrual antibodies to ANYthing, and therefor they were killed off by the thousands by sickness that should not always be fatal

I can also count on one hand all the times that any of my 4 kids combined have had an antibiotic. they get sick, but I'd rather let their bodies develop and fight, then I had kill all the bad AND the good every month or so when they get the sniffles.

[oscamaya]

Yes! I was pissed when I learned that the flu shot had mercury in it. Yeah there is still debate about whether it is "bad" or not but I am NOT going to risk it. They took mercury out of all the other vaccines and then they fail to tell me that it is still in certain flu vaccines??? I would think that is something they should let you know.

They say the risks of these vaccines is one in a million, but that is not the same as zero risk. It really sucks for the parents of those kids who were the one in a million.

I will never get the flu shot ever again for either of my kids.

[kval07]

I would be beyond livid that the state thinks it can say that my daughter has to have something injected into her body that I don't think is right for her.

Not directed at OP. This is just in general:

I love how everyone everywhere wants freedom of choice, but people are so against abortion.

People need to make up their frikkin' minds!

[deeann7]

Yes! I was pissed when I learned that the flu shot had mercury in it. Yeah there is still debate about whether it is "bad" or not but I am NOT going to risk it. They took mercury out of all the other vaccines and then they fail to tell me that it is still in certain flu vaccines??? I would think that is something they should let you know.

They say the risks of these vaccines is one in a million, but that is not the same as zero risk. It really sucks for the parents of those kids who were the one in a million.

I will never get the flu shot ever again for either of my kids.

My son is one of the 1 in a million. Or rather 1 in 150 he now has Autism and I know it is from the vaccines but I do think it was more than just the mercury. The whole vaccine schedule is just to many too fast. Just my 2 cents. All I can say is educate your self before you vaccinate. BTW I have twin 8 year old boys and both boys had problems with the vaccines but only one has Autism.:frown: