The Vaccine Divide – The Solution: The Maine Vaccine Choice Coalition opposes The Sanborn and Tucker bills that remove parental rights, insisting that parents are not the problem in the increasing rates of those opting out of the CDC’s vaccine program.  The problem is that the CDC’s vaccine program is broken, and smart parents know it full well.  In turn parents are proposing the creation of a Maine Vaccine Consumer Protection Program which will address the true problems that are destroying trust in vaccination and driving a wedge between educated families and their physicians. LD 1076, An Act to Enact […]

The Vaccine Divide – The Problem: Health authorities and families are increasingly at odds over the number and timing of vaccines given to children, with authorities pushing families toward the CDC recommended vaccine schedule, and families more often choosing less aggressive vaccine schedules, or no vaccines at all.Vaccine interests have framed the problem as one that is driven by parents lack of education on vaccines, promoting laws that will require parents to go through vaccine counseling before being able to opt out of one or more vaccines that are mandated for school entry.  However, this is at odds with the […]

This week two vaccine informed consent bills made it through the HHS committee process and will be going to the floor of the Maine Legislature for a vote. The bills are: LD 694 (HP 523) “An Act To Encourage Transparency in Disclosing the Ingredients in Vaccinations for Children to Parents and Guardians” Sponsored by Representative Andrea Boland, that would make doctors tell patients the ingredients of a vaccine before administering it to them, just like food. And LD 941 (SP 287) “An Act To Prohibit Mandatory Immunizations” Sponsored by Senator Douglas Thomas, which would simply state that no one could […]

Dear Mainers Concerned with Vaccine Safety and Choice, Last week two bills were introduced in the Maine Legislature. LD 694 (HP 523) “An Act To Encourage Transparency in Disclosing the Ingredients in Vaccinations for Children to Parents and Guardians” Sponsored by Representative Andrea Boland, that would make doctors tell patients the ingredients of a vaccine before administering it to them, just like food. And LD 941 (SP 287) “An Act To Prohibit Mandatory Immunizations” Sponsored by Senator Douglas Thomas, which would simply state that no one could force a Mainer to be vaccinated against their wishes. I would like to […]

  My brain gives me no peace. Every issue that calls for engagement has many areas to learn about and this issue, this Bill to Prohibit Mandatory Vaccinations, has a myriad of layers and connected areas of concern and possible impact. We want to educate and inform. We want people to recognize the nature of the beast, so to speak. Communicating effectively has to be one of our goals and seeing the pattern of response is key. Looking directly at this bill we find present laws in the State of Maine. Many of you have forwarded to me your letters […]

On September 29th,Thomas R. Frieden, head of CDC appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to testify on H1N1 and in a response to a question from Congressman Darrell Issa, said that the CDC would like to create federal mandates forcing vaccination. Issa asked about the “push back” from the New York medical professionals to the states mandate that they receive the H1N1 and seasonal flu shot and the case that the state has for forcing the vaccines. Frieden expressed the opinion that he believed that the state mandate is warranted, and that he thinks such mandates […]

Maine Coalition for Vaccine Choice FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ginger Taylor Tel. 207-729-6757 Email: Press@MaineVaccineChoice.org MAINE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EXCLUDES BILL TO PREVENT FORCED VACCINATION The Maine Coalition for Vaccine Choice is disappointed with the members of the Maine Legislative Council who prevented Mainers from securing their right to decline vaccination if they so choose.  Rep. Doug Thomas’ proposed bill to prevent forced vaccination in Maine was stuck down by the Council today, with out discussion, and the MCVC supports Rep Thomas in his appeal the decision at the next meeting on November 5th.  In the mean time, we hope to […]

This morning Maine Legislative Council, which decides which bills will be brought before the legilsature and which will not, voted six to four to exclude the proposed bill by Rep. Doug Thomas that would prevent Mainers from loosing the right to decline a vaccination. The vote was split on party lines.  Rep. Hannah M. Pingree of North Haven, Sen. Elizabeth H. Mitchell of Kennebec Co., Sen. Philip L. Bartlett II of Cumberland Co., Sen. Lisa T. Marrache of Kennebec Co., Rep. John F. Piotti of Unity, and Rep. Seth A. Berry of Bowdoinham voted no on including the measure, Sen. […]

The Legislative Council meeting begins at 10 a.m.on this Thursday, October 15th. Here the tentative schedule and the grouping of the bills. Rep. Thomas’ Bill, An Act To Prohibit Mandatory Vaccinations, is labeled LR 2136 and can be located on pg 9 of 29 of the doc titled “lrsbysubject2010”. You will notice that the tentative schedule does not specify the order of the bills or when they will be up. When you enter the State House, go to the 2nd Floor. Walk passed the Governors Office, to the stairs. Go up that flight of stairs. Turn right or left and […]