RI Parents Battle State Over Mandated Vaccinations
Victor Paul Alvarez, GoLocalProv Contributor
RI Parents Battle State Over Mandated Vaccinations
"We have the department of health saying 'it doesn't matter what you think, you have to get the vaccine,'" said Hillary Davis, Policy Associate for the Rhode Island ACLU.
"Now they're saying 'it doesn't matter what you think about your child's education, what we think about vaccines is the only thing that matters.'"
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDavis was one of the few to speak up at a Jan. 18 Rhode Island Department of Health public hearing on the new proposal. The public hearing drew three opponents to the proposal, one of which was Davis, along with letters of support from members of the local medical community.
"The ACLU supports vaccination, but when you're talking about a flu shot it's a vaccine that doesn't last more than a year. And last year's flu shot efficacy rate was around 47 percent. So they're mandating a vaccine that may not work and needs to be re-administered every single year. It raises concerns about the ability of an individual or a parent to make an informed decision," Davis said.
Parents concerned
One parent who agrees is Bruce Zarembka, an outspoken government watchdog from East Providence who is also Director of Acquisition at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
"The flu vaccine is one of the biggest scams ever pushed on the public by 'Big Pharma' with the help of the government. This new initiative just looks to expand more control over people as well as assist those 'Big Pharma' companies that have greased the palms of so many in Washington," he said.
"Look at the facts...the flu vaccine has very little value."
Under the plan, annual influenza vaccination would be mandatory for all children between 6 months and 59 months before entering public or private preschool or day care programs. Students deemed exempt for medical or religious reasons would be expelled during a flu outbreak.
"The concern is that it allows for any unvaccinated child to be excluded from their preschool or day care in the event of a flu outbreak. There's an outbreak every year. They can last several weeks at a time. This would have serious effect on these children."
The proposal is now being considered by the Department of Health, which will either pass it, amend it, or drop it. Given the lack of public outcry at the hearing, the proposal is likely to pass.
Until then, "there's not a whole lot else we can do," Davis said.
"We've registered our concerns and asked the Department of Health to inform us if they make the choice to disregard our concerns. If the regulation goes into effect and children are excluded from school, we're going to want to know about it."
Some are in favor
Tracy Adams Capobianco, Director of Little Red Schoolhouse childcare center in East Providence, is in favor of the proposal.
"As an owner of a Day Care/Preschool I have my staff get the flu shot. I get the flu shot, my children get the flu shot and I strongly recommend to the parents of the children at the center that their children receive flu shots," she said.
"I send home several notices from RI Department of Health to the parents."
The argument over vaccination continues to rage between the medical community, parents, and – perhaps to the detriment of all sides – celebrity turned anti-vaccination activist, Jenny McCarthy. Rhode Island is not the first to wade into what's become a passionate national debate.
Phil Plait, a columnist for Slate Magazine and author of the book "Death from the Skies!", recently wrote on the issue:
"A parent does not have the right to have their child in a public school if that child is unvaccinated, and for the same reason health care workers should not be unvaccinated. It all comes down to a very simple reality: It puts other children at risk."
The testimony from the public hearing will be reviewed by Department of Health Director Michael Fine, MD. Fine recently declared that the flu is widespread in Rhode Island. This declaration triggered Rhode Island's regulation requiring all healthcare workers who have not been immunized against the flu to wear surgical masks during direct patient contact.
"Since vaccination is the best defense against influenza, it is extremely important for everyone to get vaccinated now if they have not already done so," said Fine.
This year's vaccine protects against H1N1, among others
The dominant strain of flu circulating in Rhode Island and the country is H1N1, which was first detected in 2009. This strain effects children, young adults, and middle aged adults more than other strains. The Department of Health said this year's vaccine protects against H1N1 flu, as well as two or three other strains (depending on what type of vaccine that people receive).
"Everyone older than six months of age should be vaccinated against the flu every year. In addition to healthcare workers, vaccination is especially important for pregnant women, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes, and asthma," according to the Department of Health.
The Top 30 Highest Paid State Contractors in RI
#30
Aetna Bridge Company
Total Amount Paid: $4,925,321.79
Agency: Department of Transportation
Services Provided: Infrastructure and engineering work
#29
Tri-Town Community Action Agency
Total Amount Paid: $5,089,184.90
Agencies: Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services
Services Provided: Social, educational, health, prevention, and other services for low-income residents
#28
Commonwealth Land Title and Insurance Co.
Total Amount Paid: $5,266,256.00
Agency: Department of Transportation
Services Provided: Infrastructure and engineering work
#27
U.S. Bank National Association
Total Amount Paid: $6,005,396.73
Agency: Department of Administration
Services Provided: Debt service payments
#26
Hess Corp.
Total Amount Paid: $6,053,314.22
Agency: Department of Administration
Services Provided: Facilities management
#25
Commonwealth Engineers & Consultants, Inc.
Total Amount Paid: $6,424,070.99
Agency: Department of Transportation
Services Provided: Infrastructure and engineering work
#24
Measured Progress, Inc.
Total Amount Paid: $6,430,828.68
Agency: Department of Education
Services Provided: School testing services
#23
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Total Amount Paid: $6,524,278.36
Agency: Department of Transportation
Services Provided: Infrastructure and engineering work
#22
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.
Total Amount Paid: $7,302,036.24
Agencies: Office of Health and Human Services
Services Provided: Management of social services programs
#21
Adil Business Systems, Inc.
Total Amount Paid: $7,627,152.65
Agencies: Multiple departments including Corrections, Health, and Public Safety
Services Provided: IT services, temp staffing, health care staffing
#20
Deloitte Consulting, LLP
Total Amount Paid: $9,792,452.99
Agencies: Department of Administration, Office of Health and Human Services, and Department of Business Regulation
Services Provided: Building of a new information technology platform for state health agencies, related to the health benefits exchange
#19
Manafort Brothers, Inc.
Total Amount Paid: $9,883,340.22
Agency: Department of Transportation
Services Provided: Infrastructure and engineering work
#18
Northern Construction Service, LLC
Total Amount Paid: $10,203,522.21
Agency: Department of Transportation
Services Provided: Infrastructure and engineering work
#17
J. H. Lynch & Sons, Inc.
Total Amount Paid: $10,223,421.90
Agencies: Departments of Administration and Transportation
Services Provided: Construction work for capital projects
#16
Morneau & Murphy
Total Amount Paid: $11,437,742.50
Agency: Department of Environmental Management
Services Provided: Bond counsel (legal services)
#15
Wakely Consulting Group
Total Amount Paid: $11,780,595.16
Agency: Office of the Governor
Services Provided: Consulting services on multiple aspects of the new health benefits exchange
#14
Delta Dental of Rhode Island
Total Amount Paid: $11,960,217.65
Agency: Department of Administration
Services Provided: Dental insurance benefits
#13
Newport Grand Jai Alai, LLC
Total Amount Paid: $13,283,588.53
Agency: Department of Revenue
Services Provided: Lottery services
#12
International Game Technology
Total Amount Paid: $13,696,756.41
Agency: Department of Revenue
Services Provided: Lottery services: manufacturer for gaming machines
#11
Wells Fargo Bank NA
Total Amount Paid: $13,850,661.19
Agency: Department of Administration
Services Provided: Debt service payments
#10
Narr. Electric Co./National Grid
Total Amount Paid: $15,613,696.50
Agencies: Multiple departments including Transporation, Administration, Environmental Management, and Public Safety
Services Provided: Electric utility
#9
First Student Inc.
Total Amount Paid: $16,690,458.62
Agency: Department of Education
Services Provided: Busing services for state-run schools
#8
D'Ambra Construction Co., Inc.
Total Amount Paid: $16,883,366.30
Agency: Department of Transportation
Services Provided: Infrastructure and engineering work
#7
Noresco, LLC
Total Amount Paid: $20,198,120.59
Agency: Department of Administration
Services Provided: Facilities management (focusing on energy services)
#6
S & R/Pihl A Joint Venture, LLC
Total Amount Paid: $21,796,515.27
Agency: Department of Transportation
Services Provided: Infrastructure and engineering work
#5
HP Enterprise Services, LLC
Total Amount Paid: $23,038,424.72
Agency: Office of Health and Human Services
Services Provided: Fiscal agent for state Medicaid program
#4
GTECH Corporation
Total Amount Paid: $44,079,461.35
Agency: Department of Revenue
Services Provided: Lottery technology products and services
#3
Cardi Corporation
Total Amount Paid: $52,191,502.81
Agency: Department of Transportation
Services Provided: Infrastructure and engineering work
#2
Bank of New York Trust Company
Total Amount Paid: $93,395,096.54
Agencies: Departments of Administration, Transportation, Public Safety, and the Office of the General Treasurer
Services Provided: Banking services including debt service payments
#1
United Healthcare
Total Amount Paid: $257,263,386
Agency: Department of Administration
Services Provided: Administration of health insurance benefits
Note: Includes total of payments to United Healthcare and its divisions.
