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From: suze@terak.UUCP (Suzanne Barnett)
Newsgroups: net.kids,net.med
Subject: Re: RE: Immunizations causing handicaps
Message-ID: <723@terak.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Sep-85 11:57:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: terak.723
Posted: Thu Sep 19 11:57:54 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Sep-85 06:38:11 EDT
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Xref: watmath net.kids:2073 net.med:2430

> I was under the impression that immunizations were required by law.

I have never heard of a LAW that required immunizations. I
believe it would be held unconstitutional on the basis of
freedom of religion. There are a lot of religions that have
beliefs about medical procedures that vary from standard MD
practice.

There are, however, immunization requirements for such
things as entering school. One can usually obtain a waver for
these on any number of reasons. However, when an epidemic
occurs, those children without the proper immunization are not
allowed to attend. This happened here in the entire Phoenix
area last spring with a measles epidemic, most prevalent in
the high schools. Naturally, some parents took it to court for
depriving their children of the right to education. The judge
threw it out. Interestingly enough, the issue the parents took
on not getting their children immunized was not religious.

> We are scheduled to have our 9 week old given her first DPT shot this
> week. The doctor gave us a pamphlet on all the different immunizations
> required and some possible side effects that might occur after the
> shots. It seems to me that the risks of not having the shots are far
> greater than having them. Any comments?

Agreed. My comments above are not based on my opinion of
whether or not immumizations should be given. I feel they
usually should, with direction from an MD, close supervision
to recognise side effects, and based upon the child's health.
-- 
Suzanne Barnett

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