Live Press Conference on
Monday, April 2, 11 a.m. EST

“This is a disaster. Government, medicine, and Autism Speaks have failed us. If you can’t join us in NYC for our press conference, we will live stream the event. Details to follow!” – Louise Kuo Habakus

Watch the press conference streaming live from NYC at 11am est CLICK HERE

Catastrophic Autism Rate Now 1 in 88, 1 in 54 Boys; Advocacy Groups Ask What Will it Take for the Feds to Act?

The Focus Autism Foundation joins a coalition of autism groups in a press conference on World Autism Day, blast HHS ongoing failures.

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 30, 2012

Grassroots autism advocacy organizations representing over 100,000 autism families will hold a press conference Monday, April 2, 2012, World Autism Day, at 11:00 at Hilton Manhattan East, 304 East 42nd St., to push for official recognition of autism as a national public health emergency and to analyze the federal health authorities’ ongoing failure to respond.

Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new prevalence rates among 8-year-olds from 2008 as 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys. “These numbers are staggering,” said Katie Wright, daughter of Autism Speaks co-founders Bob and Suzanne Wright and board member of the National Autism Association and of Focus Autism. “When will the federal health authorities wake up? Will it be 1 in 25? 1 in 10? How many children have to suffer from autism to call this an emergency?”

Recent research from Stanford University conclusively shows that environmental triggers account for most cases of autism, not genetic predisposition. “Parents have been calling on the NIH to study environmental factors for decades, but almost all the money has gone into genetic studies. No matter how high the autism rate soars, the CDC’s continued denial of an autism epidemic is a certitude comparable to death and taxes,” said Mark Blaxill, Editor-at-Large of Age of Autism web-based newspaper.

These advocacy groups believe that ongoing government research appears to be driven by corporations that fear being implicated in any environmental relationship with the autism epidemic, and believe that these apparent conflicts of interest must be exposed.

The organizations call for three urgent action steps:

1.    Secretary Sebelius should declare a national health emergency and order the NIH and CDC to shift their research focus to prevention efforts, especially investigation of long overlooked environmental factors.

2.    The Government Accounting Office should initiate a study of past research funding that has ignored environmental causes. We need to understand whether this was the result of lobbying to avoid possible liability that might be uncovered with examination of environmental triggers.

3.    The U.S. House of Representatives Government Reform Committee should initiate promised hearings as soon as possible on the failure of federal health agencies in appropriately responding to this epidemic. It has been about ten years since this Committee examined the role of the federal authorities in the autism epidemic. We can think of no other instance of any comparable epidemic that has gone on so long without Congressional oversight.

Grassroots organizations represented at the press conference: Age of Autism, AutismOne, Autism Action Network, Autism File, The Canary Party, Center for Personal Rights, The Coalition for Safe Minds, Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law and Advocacy, Focus Autism, National Autism Association, Talk About Curing Autism

Press conference:

Monday, April 2 11:00 a.m.
Hilton Manhattan East
304 East 42nd St.

Greater Good Movie A Vaccine Documentary Screening in Rockaway, NJ on 3-28

UPDATE! 1/20/12 @ 11:50am.

The Governor pocket vetoed (A3920) the flu vaccine for healthcare workers! Thank you to all who called and expressed your opposition. Please call his office @ (609)777-2500 or (609)292-6000 to thank him for NOT SIGNING this bill!

From the NJ Legislative website:

POCKET VETO The only type of veto in which the Governor does not return the bill to the Legislature for a possible vote to override. This veto applies only to bills passed within the last 10 days of a 2-year legislative session. The Governor, in essence, “pockets” the bill.

Call Governor Christie and tell him to VETO A-3920
Flu Vaccine for Health Care Workers
609-777-2500 or 609-292-6000

In the final hours of the last legislative session on January 9, 2012 the Senate passed A3920/S2984 ( njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A4000/3920_R2.PDF ).

This bill requires all health care facilities to “offer” the flu vaccine to their employees. All employees must show proof of vaccination or sign a waiver declining. They will then be entered into a data base and tracked.

• This bill is a waste of health care dollars – NJ can’t afford this cost.
  
• Health Care workers already have access to the flu vaccine, we don’t need this bill.
  
• The bill language follows ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommendations which can change and result in adult vaccine mandates, etc.
  
• This bill creates a tracking system where a health care worker’s vaccination status will be recorded; this is an invasion of privacy and can lead to mandates.
  
• This bill promotes the spread of the flu virus (flu mist is a live virus vaccine that causes the flu).
  
• Reports have shown the flu vaccine to be ineffective (Cochrane review 2011 http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab005187.html).

This bill had already passed the Assembly, so now it heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature or veto. The Governor has 45 days from passage to sign the bill. We do not know if and when within these 45 days the bill will be signed.

We need continual calls and e-mails to his office over the next month. An e-mail message can also be sent from state.nj.us/governor/contact/.

Please call Governor Christie’s office
and ask him to veto A3920:
609-777-2500 or 609-292-6000

Call and e-mail your Senator and ask them to vote NO on this legislation.  This is the final step before it hits the Governor’s desk for his signature. 

Please call and e-mail your Senator ASAP.  Contact them today (Friday) as well as Monday.   Senators e-mail address are sen(last name)@njleg.org.  Calls are important because e-mails are often checked by staff members and messages may not get to Senators in a timely fashion.  You can find Senator contact info. at  http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp

This bill S2984, is identical to A3920.    Ask them to vote NO on A3920/S2984.  We can’t afford any more expenses in NJ.  This bill could be a hardship for some facilities that may not have the staff and space to provide this shot.  Health Care facilities can already provide this for their workers it doesn’t need to be required.

This bill will require health care facilities to “offer” influenza vaccine to health care workers and “track” those who have received the vaccine and those who refuse the vaccine. This opens the door for vaccine mandates for adults. Records will be maintained regarding who has received this vaccine and who has declined it. 

• This bill is a waste of health care dollars – NJ can’t afford this cost
• Health Care workers already have access to the flu vaccine, we don’t need this bill.
• The bill language follows ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommendations which can change and result in adult vaccine mandates, etc.
• This bill promotes the spread of the flu virus (flu mist is a live virus vaccine that causes the flu)
• Reports have shown the flu vaccine to be ineffective (Cochran review 2011 http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab005187.html)

A3920 Requires health care facilities to offer influenza vaccination to their health care workers.
2nd Reading in the Senate

Identical Bill Number: S2984   

Conaway, Herb, Jr.   as Primary Sponsor
Conners, Jack   as Primary Sponsor
Ramos, Ruben J., Jr.   as Primary Sponsor
Wagner, Connie   as Co-Sponsor
Benson, Daniel R.   as Co-Sponsor
Chivukula, Upendra J.   as Co-Sponsor
                    
________________________________________
5/5/2011 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee
5/19/2011 Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading
12/5/2011 Assembly Floor Amendment Passed (Conaway)
12/15/2011 Passed by the Assembly (55-13-2)
12/15/2011 Received in the Senate without Reference, 2nd Reading

Introduced – 4 pages PDF Format    HTML Format
Statement – AHE 5/19/11 – 2 pages PDF Format    HTML Format
Reprint – 3 pages PDF Format    HTML Format
Floor Statement – Assembly 12/5/11 1R – 1 pages PDF Format    HTML Format
Reprint – 3 pages PDF Format    HTML Format
________________________________________
Committee Voting:
AHE  5/19/2011  -  r/Aca  -  Yes {10}  No {0}  Not Voting {1}  Abstains {0}  - 
Roll Call
    
Conaway, Herb, Jr. (C) – Yes   
Wagner, Connie (V) – Yes   
Angelini, Mary Pat – Yes
Benson, Daniel R. – Yes   
Green, Jerry – Yes   
Handlin, Amy H. – Yes
Munoz, Nancy F. – Yes   
Polistina, Vincent J. – Yes   
Quigley, Joan M. – Not Voting
Riley, Celeste M. – Yes   
Tucker, Cleopatra G. – Yes   

Session Voting:
Asm.  12/15/2011  -  3RDG FINAL PASSAGE   -  Yes {55}  No {13}  Not Voting {9}  Abstains {2}  - 

Roll Call
    
Albano, Nelson T. – Yes   
Amodeo, John F. – Yes   
Angelini, Mary Pat – Yes
Barnes, Peter J., III – Yes   
Benson, Daniel R. – Yes   
Bramnick, Jon M. – Yes
Bucco, Anthony M. – No   
Burzichelli, John J. – Yes   
Caputo, Ralph R. – Yes
Carroll, Michael Patrick – Yes   
Casagrande, Caroline – Yes   
Chiusano, Gary R. – No
Chivukula, Upendra J. – Yes   
Ciattarelli, Jack M. – Yes   
Conaway, Herb, Jr. – Yes
Coughlin, Craig J. – Yes   
Coutinho, Albert – Yes   
Coyle, Denise M. – Not Voting
Cryan, Joseph – Yes   
Dancer, Ronald S. – No   
DeAngelo, Wayne P. – Yes
DeCroce, Alex – No   
DiCicco, Domenick, Jr. – Not Voting   
DiMaio, John – No
Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. – Yes   
Egan, Joseph V. – Yes   
Evans, Elease – Yes
Fuentes, Angel – Yes   
Giblin, Thomas P. – Not Voting   
Gove, DiAnne C. – No
Green, Jerry – Yes   
Greenwald, Louis D. – Yes   
Gusciora, Reed – Not Voting
Handlin, Amy H. – Not Voting   
Holzapfel, James W. – Not Voting   
Jasey, Mila M. – Yes
Johnson, Gordon M. – Yes   
Lampitt, Pamela R. – Yes   
Mainor, Charles – Yes
Malone, Joseph R., III – No   
McHose, Alison Littell – No   
McKeon, John F. – Yes
Milam, Matthew W. – Yes   
Moriarty, Paul D. – Not Voting   
Munoz, Nancy F. – Yes
Nardello, Gerry – Yes   
O’Donnell, Jason – Yes   
O’Scanlon, Declan J., Jr. – Yes
Oliver, Sheila Y. – Yes   
Peterson, Erik – No   
Polistina, Vincent J. – Yes
Pou, Nellie – Yes   
Prieto, Vincent – Yes   
Quigley, Joan M. – Yes
Quijano, Annette – Yes   
Ramos, Ruben J., Jr. – Yes   
Rible, David P. – Abstain
Riley, Celeste M. – Yes   
Rudder, Scott – Not Voting   
Rumana, Scott T. – Abstain
Rumpf, Brian E. – No   
Russo, David C. – Yes   
Ryan, Kevin J. – Yes
Schaer, Gary S. – Yes   
Schroeder, Robert – No   
Singleton, Troy – Yes
Spencer, L. Grace – Yes   
Stender, Linda – Not Voting   
Thompson, Samuel D. – Yes
Tucker, Cleopatra G. – Yes   
Vainieri Huttle, Valerie – Yes   
Vandervalk, Charlotte – No
Voss, Joan M. – Yes   
Wagner, Connie – Yes   
Watson Coleman, Bonnie – Yes
Webber, Jay – Yes   
Wilson, Gilbert L. – Yes   
Wisniewski, John S. – Yes
Wolfe, David W. – No   

Session Voting:
Asm.  12/15/2011  -  3RDG FINAL PASSAGE   -  Yes {55}  No {13}  Not Voting {9}  Abstains {2}

	Albano, Nelson T. – Yes	Amodeo, John F. – Yes	Angelini, Mary Pat – Yes
	Barnes, Peter J., III – Yes	Benson, Daniel R. – Yes	Bramnick, Jon M. – Yes
	Bucco, Anthony M. – No	Burzichelli, John J. – Yes	Caputo, Ralph R. – Yes
	Carroll, Michael Patrick – Yes	Casagrande, Caroline – Yes	Chiusano, Gary R. – No
	Chivukula, Upendra J. – Yes	Ciattarelli, Jack M. – Yes	Conaway, Herb, Jr. – Yes
	Coughlin, Craig J. – Yes	Coutinho, Albert – Yes	Coyle, Denise M. – Not Voting
	Cryan, Joseph – Yes	Dancer, Ronald S. – No	DeAngelo, Wayne P. – Yes
	DeCroce, Alex – No	DiCicco, Domenick, Jr. – Not Voting	DiMaio, John – No
	Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. – Yes	Egan, Joseph V. – Yes	Evans, Elease – Yes
	Fuentes, Angel – Yes	Giblin, Thomas P. – Not Voting	Gove, DiAnne C. – No
	Green, Jerry – Yes	Greenwald, Louis D. – Yes	Gusciora, Reed – Not Voting
	Handlin, Amy H. – Not Voting	Holzapfel, James W. – Not Voting	Jasey, Mila M. – Yes
	Johnson, Gordon M. – Yes	Lampitt, Pamela R. – Yes	Mainor, Charles – Yes
	Malone, Joseph R., III – No	McHose, Alison Littell – No	McKeon, John F. – Yes
	Milam, Matthew W. – Yes	Moriarty, Paul D. – Not Voting	Munoz, Nancy F. – Yes
	Nardello, Gerry – Yes	O’Donnell, Jason – Yes	O’Scanlon, Declan J., Jr. – Yes
	Oliver, Sheila Y. – Yes	Peterson, Erik – No	Polistina, Vincent J. – Yes
	Pou, Nellie – Yes	Prieto, Vincent – Yes	Quigley, Joan M. – Yes
	Quijano, Annette – Yes	Ramos, Ruben J., Jr. – Yes	Rible, David P. – Abstain
	Riley, Celeste M. – Yes	Rudder, Scott – Not Voting	Rumana, Scott T. – Abstain
	Rumpf, Brian E. – No	Russo, David C. – Yes	Ryan, Kevin J. – Yes
	Schaer, Gary S. – Yes	Schroeder, Robert – No	Singleton, Troy – Yes
	Spencer, L. Grace – Yes	Stender, Linda – Not Voting	Thompson, Samuel D. – Yes
	Tucker, Cleopatra G. – Yes	Vainieri Huttle, Valerie – Yes	Vandervalk, Charlotte – No
	Voss, Joan M. – Yes	Wagner, Connie – Yes	Watson Coleman, Bonnie – Yes
	Webber, Jay – Yes	Wilson, Gilbert L. – Yes	Wisniewski, John S. – Yes
	Wolfe, David W. – No

(Please pass along to friends and family, especially those in the health care field)

S2984 is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Health Committee this Thursday, September 8, 2011.

This bill is an act concerning influenza vaccination of certain health care workers.

This bill will require health care facilities to “offer” influenza vaccine to health care workers and track those who have received the vaccine and those who refuse the vaccine. This opens the door for vaccine mandates for adults. Records will be maintained regarding who has received this vaccine and who has declined it.

• This bill is a waste of health care dollars – NJ can’t afford this cost.
• The bill language mandates following the federal ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommendations, which can change and could result in more frequent and/or other adult vaccine co-mandates.
• Health Care workers in NJ are well aware of the CDC vaccine recommendations. They already have access to the flu vaccine and can determine if the flu shot is right for them. They should not be pressured and coerced into getting one.
• Independent Researchers have shown the flu vaccine to be ineffective (Cochrane review 2011)

Please call, email, and fax, the members of the Senate Health Committee listed below and ask them to VOTE NO on S2984 (Call Today and Tomorrow, they Vote on Thursday, September 8th)

Loretta Weinberg senweinberg@njleg.org 201-928-0100 / fax 201-928-0406

Joseph Vitale senvitale@njleg.org 732-855-7441

Dawn Marie Addiego senaddiego@njleg.org 609-654-1498

Diane Allen senallen@njleg.org 609-239-2800 / fax 609-239-2673

Robert Gordon sengordon@njleg.org 201-703-9779

Sean Kean senskean@njleg.org 732-974-0400 / fax 732-974-2564

Fred Madden senmadden@njleg.org 856-232-6700

Ronald Rice senrice@njleg.org 973-371-5665

Robert Singer sensinger@njleg.org 732-901-0702 / fax 732-901-0587

Jim Whelan senwhelan@njleg.org 609-383-1388

Visit www.NJVaccinationChoice.org Sign the Online Petition Supporting A2450!

Vaccine Epidemic. How Corporate Greed, Biased Science, and Coercive Government Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health, and Our Children. Released February 2011. http://vaccineepidemic.com

“There are unanswered questions about vaccine safety… No one should be threatened by the pursuit of this knowledge.” Dr. Bernadine Healy, former director of the National Institutes of Health, in her review of Vaccine Epidemic.

Featuring more than twenty experts from the fields of ethics, law, science, medicine, business, and history, Vaccine Epidemic urgently calls for more vaccine safety science, and for the international human rights standard of free and informed consent to all medical interventions. Vaccine Epidemic is a survival guide for all people contemplating vaccination for themselves and their children.

Testimony seeking the right to be educated in Massachusetts despite one’s vaccination status.

The current text of the bill can be found here.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A4000/3920_R1.PDF