California vaccine law: Opponents' repeal effort fails, but fight goes on
Source: San Jose Mercury News
The fight to repeal California's controversial new mandatory vaccine law officially ended this week before it even got to the ballot box, as opponents on Wednesday conceded an ill-fated petition drive fell woefully short on signatures.
But while the latest setback is forcing one of the state's most vocal and embittered activist groups to acknowledge an organizational breakdown and lack of resources, parents and politicians behind the cause refuse to give up the larger battle: overturning -- or, at least, weakening -- a law they say violates their parental rights.
Tim Donnelly, the former state assemblyman who led the referendum, acknowledged Wednesday that many Californians weren't ready to donate to the cause -- or provide their signature.
"People are terrified of this issue," said Donnelly, who ran for governor last year. "The politicians, they want it to go away."
Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_28936729/california-vaccine-law-opponents-repeal-effort-fails-but
= new reply since forum marked as read
I worked at Forest Lawn. And they were giving free flu shots to employees. My boss told me and my co-worker that we should go get the vaccine, as the work schedule was very hectic over the holidays. So we did. I was nervous and the nurse hit a ligament or something, and it hurt like hell for a few days.
On New Years Eve that same year, me and many of my friends were at a New Years Eve party. Within a couple days afterward, most everyone that had been there became horribly ill with a flu—I called all my friends and nearly everyone had the flu. I was told that "so-and-so" showed up to the party sick. 
But as for me, I was in great health and full of energy for the whole weekend. It soon hit me that I had the flu shot—and ever since then I try to get the flu shot.
About 10 years later, I was hanging out with some new friends and they were going off on how horrible vaccines were: the ingredients, etc, etc. I believed them, because I'd never heard that theory before. Still, I continued to get a flu shot—because I frigging HATE the flu!! But every time I went to get a shot, I felt like I was doing something wrong. And that "guilt" went on for over 10 years.
But since being on DU, and since reading the news last year of childhood diseases on the rise, I was shocked to find that the anti-vaccine hoopla was from a fringe element.
BTW: I rarely get sick now. Haven't had the flu in countless years—probably over 20. And don't get colds at all, either.
Anyways, I just wanted to share that. 
and getting a TB shot will help mitigate this life killing disease.
Maybe he should come to the full realization, that TB is now more deadly in Africa, South America, Asia, and the Middle East and has killed over 2.6 million people, and when you get TB you are more sustainable to get AIDS, its not like EBOLA, that can be prevented with the proper procedures, just think the world is now experiencing a epidemic of TB that is now drug resistant---------do you know this Mr. Donnelly.
But when it comes to "AIRBORNE" diseases, go ahead and get on a train, plane or in fact a friends car that has not been given the shot and if you get exposed , please come back and tell us what you now think.
And, if Mr. Donnelly and his team, think that California should be a breeding ground for measles, or better yet Whooping cough, chicken pox, just starters, maybe someone should inform him and all of his followers on what happened, and then send him first hand accounts from the Native American people verbal history and records on what happens when you are exposed to these diseases, when they traded blankets or came in contact and the disease was in bedded in the blanket, hand shake, to the Native American population when the Spanish and the Europeans came to the Americas, it was not a pretty picture.
And just as a side note, did Mr. Donnelly and to his followers, did they ever put two and two together on the issues if military personnel and there families on why they do get these shots.
They do travel the world, were diseases run rampant, and in some places the water isn't to clean , they can get typhoid, cholera, you know the little bug that can cripple or kill a man while in combat , defending your belief that vaccine shots don't mean anything.
And if he had gotten this measure on the ballot ---------would California have to be quarantine , because I would want to know if you or your kid has the shots because I don't feel that you, Mr. Donnelly and your team have the right to expose me, families or anyone to the diseases, because, you after all are the host of the disease, and you do breath the same air that we all do, and I kinda like traveling to shops and sending my kids to school knowing that other kids and people have had there shots, because it also drives down health care costs, your plan would do the opposite-------------think about that for a minute
Honk-------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016.
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September 23, 2015
Diana Dooley, Secretary
Health and Human Services Agency
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Dear Secretary Dooley:
Re: Request for temporary exemption for use of thimerosal-containing vaccine
Due to delays in the delivery of preservative-free flu vaccine across the U.S., we request a temporary exemption be granted to allow health care providers in California to administer thimerosal-containing vaccine to children under three years of age and pregnant women.
The United States is experiencing a national shortage of Fluzone pediatric pre-filled syringes, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur. This is the only preservative-free injectable vaccine that can be administered to children ages 6-35 months under California law (California Health and Safety Code Section 124172). Additionally the delivery of FluMist, the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) that is administered intranasally, is also delayed throughout the country. FluMist has no preservative and can be administered to a two-year old child if there are no contraindications. The manufacturer reports that the vaccine is delayed due to production and shipping issues.
Physicians across California are reporting that delays of preservative-free flu vaccine are resulting in significant missed opportunities for vaccination and protection of vulnerable members of our community — hundreds of parents who desire the flu vaccine for their infants and toddlers are being turned away. Many young children and pregnant women may be at risk for serious disease and even death if providers are legally prohibited from administering flu vaccine that contains thimerosal, which is safe and effective for these groups.
California Health and Safety Code Section 124172 requires that vaccines administered to children less than 36 months of age and women who are known to be pregnant be thimerosal-free unless an exemption is provided by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and agreed to by the Governor. Existing law stipulates that such an exemption can be granted in the event of a “shortage of supply of a vaccine.” (See Chapter 837, September 28, 2004)
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Sincerely,
Kris E. Calvin
Executive Director
American Academy of Pediatrics-CA
Susan Hogeland, CAE
Executive Vice President
California Academy of Family Physicians
Erika Jenssen, MPH
President
California Immunization Coalition
The link for the reposted letter is above reproach and SOLID. Related references on California Health and Safety Code Section 124172 are here: http://www.aapca3.org/resources/press/fluvax0602.pdf including link to actual 2006 law.
Additional Resources
The text of the new law, California Health and Safety (H&S) Code Section 124172 is available for review at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=hsc&group=124001-125000&file=124172
The source of the link for the letter is below. Obviously, I could post the letter without risking a hide, but I strive for transparency. Hey, now.
Oct 6
DID DR. PAN KNOWINGLY MISLEAD THE CA ASSEMBLY HEALTH PANEL?
This happens every year, but usually not until all the mercury-free flu vaccines run out.
In case you didn't know, there is a CA law which prohibits the use of mercury flu vaccines in pregnant women and kids under three. BUT, by November or December all the mercury-free formulations are used up, and the Secretary of HHSA in CA has to get the governor to temporarily suspend the law so that the distribution and administration of flu vaccines to this vulnerable population can continue without interruption. This goes on year after year.
Now, it seems that there is a shortage in the initial supply of mercury-free doses, so the AAP, CAFP, and the California Immunization Coalition have sent a letter to the Secretary of HHSA to get the ok NOW for babies and their mommies to get mercury-containing flu vaccines - before they all die of the flu.
Dr. Pan was asked about this during the Assembly Health hearings on SB 277. He was asked point blank: "Is there still mercury in vaccines?"
Instead of answering directly, he said "There is a law which prohibits the use of mercury in vaccines in pregnant women and infants." The quotes are mine, but his answer was very close to that. I waited for someone to call him out on it, but no one did. Technically, what Dr. Pan said was accurate - there is such a law.
AND, each year that law gets suspended. I don't know if the HHSA Secretary has responded to this letter yet. We will see.
Dr. Bob
Here is a link to the letter: http://aap-ca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ExemptionRequest-InfluenzaVaccine09-252015cm.pdf
