This is the letter I wrote for my religious exemption, if youd like to post it. To whom it may concern: I am writing to formally defend my decision to decline the influenza vaccination. I have made this decision based on strong moral and ethical convictions that are supported by my religious beliefs, medical research and legal precedent. Medical research indicates that the efficacy of the influenza vaccination is grossly exaggerated (1). The British Medical Journal has questioned the validity of studies claiming efficacy and stated that “evidence from systemic reviews shows that inactivated vaccines have little or no effect on the effects measured” (2). Another journal has demonstrated that influenza vaccinations have not changed the amount of doctor visits or hospitalizations in children (3,4,5), and another shows that vaccinations have not impacted the mortality rate of the elderly population (6,7). There is also a lack of supporting evidence to show that vaccinating healthcare workers prevents influenza transmission (8). The CDC states that persons vaccinated with the flu nasal spray may actually spread the virus to others (14). I believe that these vaccinations are giving the hospital staff a false sense of security and potentially putting our patients at risk. There is also a great risk to the recipients of the vaccine, which is not discussed with the staff PRIOR to the injection of the vaccine into our bodies. Some of the potential side effects from the vaccination include anaphylaxis, allergic asthma, redness and discomfort at the injection site, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), vasculitis, body aches, paresthesia, neuopathy, seizure, facial palsy, facial paresis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, chills, fever, encephalitis and meningitis (10). Thimerosal has been shown to potentially increase the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, brain damage and nervous system injury, and death (11,12). There are no guarantees that the flu vaccination will be one hundred percent effective against the flu, just as there are no guarantees that any person will be one hundred percent free from any or all of these potential side effects. The CDC lists the following ingredients found in the influenza vaccination: Neomycin, Polymyxin B, formaldehyde or formalin, thimerosal, embryonated chicken eggs, egg albumin, gelatin, Gentamycin, Polyoxyethylene 9-10 Nonyl Phenol (Triton N-101, Octoxynol 9), chick kidney cells and Taurodeoxychoalate (9). Many of these are known carcinogens as well as detergents that have unknown effects on the human body. Package inserts also state that the vaccination/mist “has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential or its potential to impair fertility.” This clearly states that very little is known about the long-term health effects of receiving this vaccination. I believe that vaccination is an invasive medical procedure and based on the above, is an experimental procedure. While I support the hospital’s desire to maintain safety for both patients and staff, I cannot support the use of mandatory vaccinations to achieve this goal. The mandatory administration of this is in direct violation of the Nuremberg Code which states in article 1 that consent should be voluntary and allow for “free power of choice without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, over-reaching, or other ulterior form of constraint or coercion.” Article 6 states, “the degree of risk to be taken should never exceed that determined by the humanitarian importance of the problem to be solved by the experiment.” And article 9, “During the course of the experiment the human subject should be at liberty to bring the experiment to an end if he has reached the physical or mental state where continuation of the experiment seems to him to be impossible” (13). As a Christian I believe I am to treat my body with respect, as it is a gift from God (see 2 Corinthians 7:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20). I believe that knowingly injecting myself with cancer-causing toxins that could lead to death or severe debilitating illnesses such as GBS, is in direct contradiction to my religious beliefs to take good care of this body that God has given me. Health is of great importance to me, and something that I do not take lightly. My desire is to maintain an optimal level of health through a good diet, regular exercise and rest, as well as maintain good personal hygiene in order to continue to provide my patients with safe care. Sincerely, __________________ Rn 1 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;1. 2 BMJ 2006;333: 3 Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008 Oct;162(10):943-51 4 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;2. 5 Arch Dis Child. 2004 Aug;89(8):734-5. 6 Lancet Infect Dis. 2007 Oct;7(10):658-66 7 Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008 Sep 1;178(5):527-33. Epub 2008 Jun 12. 8 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Feb 17;(2):CD005187 9 cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf accessed 08/30/13 10 Package inserts for FluMist and Fluarix 11 Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry. 2009;91(4):735-49. 12 Cell Biol Toxicol. 2010 Apr;26(2):143-52. Epub 2009 Apr 9. 13 https://research.buffalo.edu/rsp/irb/forms/Nuremberg_Code.pdf accessed 08/30/13 14 cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:01:56 +0000
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