* Oy…
McCann voted “No.”
* From Forsaken Generation…
Jen Suter is a single mom, activist and the Co-Founder of Illinois Coalition for Informed Consent… a group made up of over 1,000 Illinois residents, that stands for medical freedom, parental rights, vaccine safety and informed consent. In the Spring of 2017, alongside hundreds of dedicated Illinois activists, Jen took part in stalling a FLU mandate for healthcare employees. When she isn’t meeting with local legislators and working with all of the people of IC4IC to stop medical mandates in Illinois for both students and employees, she is homeschooling her 6 year old son Jackson.
* From the Illinois Coalition for Informed Consent’s web page…
IC4IC works closely with National Vaccine Information Center. NVIC is the number one organization with the most legislative experience regarding vaccine law in the country.
* From the LA Times…
The nonprofit NVIC says it “does not advocate for or against the use of vaccines” and describes itself as a proponent of “vaccine safety and informed consent protections in the public health system.” However, its campaigns portray vaccines as risky and encourage people to consider alternatives, like hand-washing. In his book “Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives,” Michael Specter calls the group “the most powerful anti-vaccine organization in America.”
* Wikipedia…
The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) is a U.S based anti-vaccination organization which has been widely criticized as a leading source of vaccine misinformation and fearmongering. While NVIC describes itself as the “oldest and largest consumer led organization advocating for the institution of vaccine safety and informed consent protections”, it promotes false and misleading information including the fraudulent claim that vaccines cause autism, and its campaigns portray vaccination as risky, encouraging people to consider “alternatives”.
…Adding… Press release from the sponsor…
After an increase in hospital visits during what was reported as an extremely harsh flu season, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D- Chicago) increased efforts to provide students and parents research and prevention materials regarding influenza.
“There was a very rapid increase in the number of people going to see their doctors or health care providers with flu related symptoms,” said Hunter. “We have to get in front of this issue by providing children and families the information they need to live healthy lives.”
Senate Bill 2654 requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop informational materials about influenza and flu vaccines for school districts. Additionally, school boards would be required to provide that information to parents when notifying them of other health related matters.
“Influenza is a dangerous illness that can have serious consequences, but people can take steps to protect themselves,” Hunter said. “We need to make sure no one ends up severely ill because they lacked information on preventative measures they can take.”
According to reports, there have been, a total of 114 pediatric deaths related to the flu; 30 deaths so far this year. Doctors’ offices and emergency rooms experienced visits at levels almost as high as during the 2009 swine flu epidemic.
The bill passed 40-12 and will head the Illinois House of Representative for further consideration.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 1:33 pm:
Let me guess, they’re not against vaccines, they’re just “asking questions.” I have no sympathy nor patience for them.
- Thoughts Matter - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 1:35 pm:
With all the various laws we have trying to protect our adults from themselves…. we are going to allow our children to be unorotected from diseases? We are going to allow immune challenged children( such as cancer patients) to bear the risk that a fellow classmate or birthday party attendee has been exposed to an illness that could devestste said child cancer patient? Said cancer patients can’t be vaccinated.
- Yiddishcowboy - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 1:41 pm:
Sen. McCann, I cannot say what I think of your opposition, even in Yiddish as I’m aware Rich knows some Yiddish expressions. my son has a disability and as such is very susceptible to catching another student’s disease whether it be the flu or something worse. My family and I need to know when there is a flu outbreak in his school. I’ve lost a great deal of respect due to your opposition to this harmless but very important bill. What a shanda.
- Spliff - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 1:41 pm:
Couple things of note: she stands with hundreds sounds more like a block party than a voting block. As a proud home school parent can we stop pointing out the few total nut jobs who lobby the legislature over freakish/dumb ideas, such as this, and handing out scary pies
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
–However, its campaigns portray vaccines as risky and encourage people to consider alternatives, like hand-washing.–
Or spreading virus and infectious diseases.
Back to the values of the good ol’ days, of porch swings, lemonade and measles.
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 1:44 pm:
To Senator McCann…awww man.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 1:53 pm:
Anti-vaxxers are exactly the constituency McCann is looking for: goony bird crazies who would have voted for Rauner had he not signed HB 40, who voted for Ives in the primary, and are just itching for a quixotic third party savior to support next fall.
Full speed ahead, Sam.
- Yiddishcowboy - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 1:57 pm:
You, too, are a shanda Sen. McConchie. Unbelievable. Seems as though neither of you has any compassion…not to mention common sense.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 2:12 pm:
In the Senator’s defense, he knows his constituency. Who else can say that?
- Me Again - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 2:14 pm:
Sam McCann just lost my vote.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 3:03 pm:
Jen Suter, thank you for homeschooling your child and thus limiting other children’s exposure to communicable diseases.
- Ronson T Lighter - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 3:28 pm:
Sam McCann has just won my vote
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 4:01 pm:
So our choices are a flake, a cruel known incompetent, and an unknown with enough staff and money to be unknowable until elected. Some days I wish I drank.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 4:10 pm:
== encourage people to consider alternatives, like hand-washing==
That’s a joke, right?
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 4:17 pm:
=That’s a joke, right?=
So you are against hand-washing? /s
= a group made up of over 1,000 Illinois residents=
That is 0.000083% of our population. That should put the fear into every legislator.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 4:18 pm:
Measels, rubella, smallpox, polio. All eradicated by vaccines.
I think parents are being irresponsible by refusing to vaccinate their children.
- Mad Brown - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 4:25 pm:
Only 100 years ago more than 50 million people died from the flu.
- Jasmine - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 8:31 am:
I believe medical information and questions should be handled at the doctor’s office. From a doctor who went to medical school. School Teachers should not be providing this information in school without a medical license. That the funding should go towards something better. What if the kids have medical questions that school teachers don’t know the answer to or provide false information. This subject should be handled by a professional doctor in a doctors office and not by school teachers.
- Anon - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 8:44 am:
Why was my previous comment deleted referencing that the sponsors and proponents of the bill ignored all attempts to work with the opposition? The attempt was never to kill this bill, in fact that was made clear at every hearing and in multiple emails to all parties involved, including committee members.
The opposition was not against the education being created by the IDPH, but it does not belong amending the school code. Illinois state law requires children to attend doctors appointments at Kindergarten, 6th and 9th grades, where this information is discussed between the doctor, patient and their parents. Not to mention the annual “well visits” that most doctors require for insurance purposes in Illinois.
This wasn’t a vaccine conversation. It was a conversation about yet another unfunded mandate being placed on schools. Congratulations for creating something that wasn’t part of the conversation.