Beyond vaccine wars is an event primarily to benefit the Pomona College community but it’s free and open to the general public as well. Rose Hill Theatre at Pomona College seats 200.
Beyond Vaccine Wars: A Look at the Politics and Legislation of Vaccination
7PM MON, NOV 16 // ROSE HILLS THEATRE (Smith Campus Center, 170 E. Sixth St., Claremont, California)
In December 2014, at least 40 people who visited or worked at Disneyland contracted measles. On June 30, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 277, which eliminates the personal and religious belief exemptions to vaccination, requiring nearly all California schoolchildren to be fully vaccinated in order to go to public school, private school, or daycare. Legislation on vaccination continues to be a contentious political issue, earning it the name: “vaccine wars.“
Join the PSU for a discussion on vaccination policy, looking at the intersection of public health, individual choice, and the role of our government.
Beyond Vaccine Wars Speakers:
ALEXANDER CAPRON: University Professor, Scott H. Bice Chair in Healthcare Law, Policy and Ethics, Professor of Law and Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, Co-Director, Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics
JENNIFER MARGULIS, PHD: Former Senior Fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism; featured in PBS Frontline’s The Vaccine War; author of Your Baby, Your Way: Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Parenting Decisions for a Happy, Healthier Family
HILARY LACONTE, MA, EDUCATION: President, Governing Board, Claremont Unified School District; Associate Director of Public Policy Analysis Program at Pomona College
DR. BOB SEARS, MD: Orange County pediatrician; founder of the non-profit Immunity Education Group. You can find out more about him on his Facebook professional page.
Published: November 12, 2015
Last update: January 21, 2020
Monica says
Would love to know if a podcast of the talk will be available for those of us who cannot attend. Thank you!
Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D. says
Thanks for asking Monica. We’ve been told that Pomona College is videotaping the event and will be making it available on YouTube.
Cheli says
Was this ever posted to YouTube?
Sue Nelson says
Great event last night! Thanks for standing up for parental rights!
Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D. says
Cheli – it was but apparently there was a glitch in the video and you can only see the first half of the debate. It’s here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=942dVzuPUN0
Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D. says
Here is part of Dr. Bob Sears’s transcript that was not included in the video:
MORE TRANSCRIPT FROM THE POMONA VACCINE DISCUSSION.
“Be careful what rights you give up to the government. Don’t be too quick to jump on the bandwagon to remove the rights of one group. Your group may be next.”
Here is part of what the video missed . . .
Question posed to Dr. Sears:
On your Immunity Education website, it states that, “Medicine is always a free choice, and informed consent is a right guaranteed by every international organization.” Your website also writes that consumers should be able to make “educated decisions in partnership with a health care provider.” How do you see SB 277, and similar legislation, operating in accordance with or in violation with these statements? As a pediatrician, how do you adhere to these statements?
I give vaccines in my office every single day. I also respect a patient’s right to choose.
Here is why this law violates informed consent:
1. Medical informed consent:
– must always allow for a patient to decline treatment
– must include a thorough discussion of BOTH the risks and the benefits.
– must always include alternative choices
– must be given freely and without coercion
No doctor or government can rightly force a medical treatment and call it informed consent. No government can coerce parents into accepting treatment under the threat of penalties and call it informed consent.
What do other countries do?
Western Europe:
Only three Western European countries – France, Portugal, and Belgium – force a vaccination – and they only force two of them – DTP and Polio.
Germany, the United Kingdon, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain and others have all abolished compulsory vaccination.
British Medical Association Chairman Dr Ian Bogle said:
“The BMA does not think compulsory vaccination would be right for the United Kingdom. The doctor-patient relationship is based on trust, choice and openness and we think introducing compulsory vaccination may be harmful to this.”
The UNITED NATIONS “Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights” (2005), states that when it comes to medicine and informed consent:
– The interests and welfare of the individual should have priority over the sole interest of society (Article 3).
– Any medical intervention is only to be carried out with the free and informed consent of the person concerned, without disadvantage or prejudice. (Article 6)
I don’t think anyone here would agree we should abolish Informed Consent. I want you to think about whether or not granting the government the power to mandate medicine does just that.
Some may argue that this law doesn’t technically force anything (yet). But any law which punishes people for not accepting a complex medical treatment adds coercion and violates YOUR right to choose your medicine.
The punishment in CA now for declining vaccines is that one parent loses his job to stay home and be a teacher, and the kids are denied a traditional education. You know what the punishment is in Mississippi and West Virginia for not accepting vaccines? You lose your children, and you go to jail. Seems barbaric, I know. But it’s the truth. So be careful what freedoms you give up to the government.
2. What exactly are patients consenting to with vaccines?
– Vaccination today is more than just a few shots – Today, we give children 70 doses. Back in the 80s, we only gave 24 doses throughout all of childhood. Now, we give 24 doses by 6 months of age.
– Not saying this is bad or dangerous – I’m just telling you what it is.
– It’s not a simple treatment. Parents should have the right to make a free, educated decision, without being ostracized from society.
Closing:
We, as a free people, must be able to talk about vaccines and every issue in our society. There is not a single social or medical topic that we shouldn’t be allowed to debate. Let me tell you – the medical community does not want to talk about vaccines. When you have children, you may find that your doctor won’t discuss it with you either. And that’s a travesty. He or she will discuss the pros and cons of every other aspect of your children’s medical care, but NOT the 70 doses of vaccines that will be given.
Those who support mandatory vaccination are constantly trying to prevent open discussions such as this one. Ask yourself why? Why are people afraid to talk about it? Is there any topic or treatment that is so absolutely right for every single person that it shouldn’t even be discussed?
Regarding this law, and possible future laws, be careful what rights you give up to the govt. Don’t be too quick to jump on the bandwagon to remove the rights of one group. Your group may be next.
The essence of what I do is that I talk about it with patients. And I listen. I talk about it with neighbors, friends, and crowds. I talk, openly and honestly . . . and you all should too.
Dr. Bob