vaccination exemption in NM gets tougher! The language has changed, and the philosophical... - Page 2

[Peggy O'Mara]

This is making me crazy. I heard about it last week on the radio and plan to call the NM Dept of Health as a reporter and ask questions about the new policy with the intention of blogging about it. I don't see how the Department of Health can change the policy by just changing the form. I used the form for many years while my children were school age so know that NM has had a philosophical exemption in practice, if not in law, for a long time. So, first I want to know how such a big change from years of precedent can be made WITHOUT public comment.

I understand from a friend at the Dept of Health that there have been a lot of shakeups there recently and I wonder how much this change is politically motivated. I'm thinking it would be a good idea to talk to Brian Egoff, one of our state legislators about getting the philosophical exemption back legally but first I want to see the actual law and talk to the Dept of Health and figure out more how this has transpired.

I've also been thinking about starting a FB page for New Mexicans for Vaccine Choice. Do you all like this idea? Would you support it? Seems like we need to organize to get our rights back. Tell me if you're in.

[Peggy O'Mara]

Here is a link to the ACTUAL LAW. Below are two salient paragraphs. Read the whole law.

      B.           Exemption by certification of religious objection: A parent or guardian who cannot obtain an affidavit from an officer of a recognized denomination as described in Section 7-1 [sic], but whose religious beliefs, held either individually or jointly with others, do not permit the administration of vaccine or other immunizing agents, may apply for an exemption from immunization by submitting a certificate of conscientious objection to immunization.

              H.          Every parent or guardian of a child whose claim on behalf of that child for religious exemption from the student immunization requirements is disapproved by the director of the public division shall have the right to pursue an administrative appeal from such disapproval. The manner and method of administrative appeal shall be determined by the secretary of the New Mexico department of health.

[01/14/76, 10/31/96; Recompiled 10/31/01]

[LCBMAX]

Peggy -

Glad you are tuning in to this!

Please also check out this other thread here on MDC: 

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1359175/policy-change-in-new-mexico

and be sure to notice the facebook group already cooking along which might serve the purpose you are considering:

"New Mexicans for Parental Rights, Healthcare Freedom and Informed Vaccine C"

I especially appreciate Halo's well researched contributions, and I think her point that the law or policy itself has not changed per se is crucial in any arguments that are raised in a public forum.

[Peggy O'Mara]

Thanks so much. I just posted on the other thread. Halo has done a great job. Maybe we should all get together.

[ila735]

I really do wonder if that backward change in policy won't even "worsen" the situation the Dept of Health set out to "right" by the principle of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I am curious to see if they really manage to intimidate significant numbers of families, as opposed to hardening them into absolute non-vaccinating resolutions. I already know 2 families that used to vaccinate selectively for such things as perhaps DTap and Polio, but say they no longer will, as the current situation has become either you take all compulsory vaccines, or none. That, and a lot of so far compliant parents are becoming aware of the fact that they can indeed request an exemption (and there are a lot who do not know that they can). In 1999, there were obviously fewer required vaccines, so more parents were complying. As they add on sillier and more controversial vaccines to their list of requirements, it is little wonder they see growth in the number of exemption requests. How they assess religious reasons though, would be very curious to find out. Do they use trained coders and have lists of "valid" and "non-valid" beliefs? It'd be interesting to know.

[halo]

please consider joining the conversation over in a google group (esp for those who don't want to join facebook). 

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/new-mexico-parental-rights