MEDIA ROOTS – In California, Assembly Bill 2109 is generating more controversy over some parents’ decision to opt-out from certain vaccines for their children. According to the National Vaccine Information Center, an advocacy organization that promotes parental choice over government mandate, AB2109 is a direct threat to parental sovereignty because it would require additional doctor’s visits and required paperwork for those parents opting-out from particular vaccinations for their children.
Over the weekend, actor and comedian Rob Schneider met with News10 out of Sacramento to discuss why he’s against the legislation. Schneider, along with fellow celebrity Jenny McCarthy who co-founded the autism support network Generation Rescue, believe a link between vaccinations and autism exists which is why they would have their children opt-out. However, multiple scientific studies have been conducted to dispel the link. Regardless, Schneider adamantly testifies that parents should become more knowledgeable about the issue by reading The Vaccine Guide by Randall Neustaedter before making their own decision.
Controversy over the use of vaccines has existed since the first vaccine was used in the 18th century to prevent the outbreak of small pox. Today, there is no doubt that the vaccine industry is big business. While the pharmaceutical industry spends nearly $200 million per year lobbying the federal government, commercials for vaccines now grace TV screens in certain parts of the United States.
Oskar Mosco
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Actor and comedian Rob Schneider discusses his view of AB2109 in California.
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Photo provided by Flickr user AJC1.
Great Article.
The term in loco parentis, Latin for “in the place of a parent,” refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent. Originally derived from English common law, it is applied in two separate areas of the law. First, it allows institutions such as colleges and schools to act in the best interests of the students as they see fit, although not allowing what would be considered violations of the students’ civil liberties. Second, this doctrine can provide a non-biological parent to be given the legal rights and responsibilities of a biological parent if they have held themselves out as the parent. Nowhere does it say that any government entity can act as a parent and forced vaccination is a clear and direct violation of the liberty to control what enters you or your child’s body.