Sunday, November 15, 2015

Another Vaccine Regulation - Not By Legislation

Once again, Pennsylvania is considering new regulations which will infringe on parents' rights to decide what is best for their children. These alarming new regulations include homeschooled students. This is a legal process whereby the Department of Health and Department of Education have broad authority to change regulations, rather than a typically proposed bill which requires legislative approval. Unlike our state representatives and senators, these departments are not accountable to constituents' desires. 

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This Department of Health / Department of Education FAQ sheet  indicates that the Departments of Health and Education will require ALL students to receive vaccines, require high school seniors to get the Meningococcal vaccine, and require children ages 11 through 18 to get one dose of Tdap vaccine in combination form.

No matter your personal stand on the vaccine issue, it should be very concerning that government agencies should try to compel medical procedures on those who do not wish to take part in such procedures. Where there is a risk, there must always be a choice.

Although this legislation is couched as protecting public school children through "herd immunity," homeschool students will be required to follow all of the regulations, per the FAQ linked above.

CHAP encourages all homeschooling families to contact their state representatives and senators and let them know that government agencies should not be compelling medical procedures on children against their parents' authority. Make your legislators aware that the Departments of Health and Education are acting against parents' rights to decide what is best for their own children.

Remember to be polite but firm in stating your position, and get to the point quickly. Many legislators may not even be aware of what the Dept. of Health and Dept. of Education are proposing to do. The more noise we make now, the more our legislators will realize how important parental rights are to their constituents.

Find your House Representative and State Senator here: 

As this proposed regulation works its way through the system, there will be an opportunity for public comment. Please visit the CHAP Legislative Blog regularly for updates.