The New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice (NJCVC) is a state-level anti-vaccination group advocating against mandatory vaccination. Scientists and medical experts have countered many of these statements, arguments against vaccination being contradicted by overwhelming scientific consensus about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.[1][2][3][4]
| Abbreviation | NJCVC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2008 |
| Founder |
|
| Purpose | Anti-vaccination group |
Region | New Jersey |
Official language | English |
Goals
editSince its foundation in 2008[5] by Sue Collins[6][7] and Maureen Drummond,[8] the group's spokespersons have been advocating against mandatory vaccination for school children. While they reject the "anti-vaccine" label, they repeat messages common to other anti-vaccination groups about the alleged lack of testing of multiple vaccines, while denying vaccination was effective in eliminating infectious diseases such as polio.[7][8][9][10][11]
Several experts such as Paul Offit have said campaigns by groups such as the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice contribute to vaccine hesitancy, even as New Jersey's vaccination rates decline, putting the population in increasing danger.[7][9][10][11]
New Jersey vaccine exemptions
editNew Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice was instrumental to bringing some 400 protesters to the New Jersey State House on December 12, 2019, as legislators were debating a measure meant to tighten the state's vaccine exemption regulations. Supported by anti-vaccination activist Del Bigtree, some of the parents said they would take their children out of school rather than have them vaccinated.[6][12] A call for action by the group brought an angry crowd to committee hearings in 2018 when state legislator were debating a similar measure.[13]
A 2009 meeting between representatives of the group, including anti-vaccination activist Louise Kuo Habakus, and New Jersey governor Chris Christie put the governor in political difficulty when he seemed to agree with the debunked belief that vaccines cause autism.[14][15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Communicating science-based messages on vaccines". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 95 (10): 670–71. October 2017. doi:10.2471/BLT.17.021017. PMC 5689193. PMID 29147039.
- ^ "Why do some people oppose vaccination?". Vox. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
- ^ Ceccarelli L. "Defending science: How the art of rhetoric can help". The Conversation. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
- ^ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Vaccines.gov". Vaccines.gov. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
- ^ "Press Release: Parental Rights And Vaccination Choice Are Essential". New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice. 2015-02-09. Archived from the original on 2019-09-18. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ a b Petrello, Matt (2019-12-12). "'Parents Call The Shots': Hundreds Gather For Hearing On Repealing Religious Exemption To Childhood Vaccinations In New Jersey". CBS Philadelphia. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ a b c Vanozzi, Briana (2019-09-25). "Amid national measles outbreak, more NJ students opt out of vaccines". NJTV News. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ a b Shelton, Deborah L. (2010-05-26). "Chicago ground zero for vaccine safety debate". Chicago tribune. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ a b Kelly, Marttha (2016-12-07). "Vaccines: Inside the Debate". New Jersey Family. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ a b Vannozzi, Briana (2017-02-17). "More NJ Parents Seek Religious Vaccine Exemptions". NJTV News. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ a b Vanozzi, Briana (2015-01-30). "Vaccination Debate: Parents, Doctors Discuss the Pros, Cons of Immunizations". NJTV News. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ Washburn, Lindy; Balcerzak, Ashley (2019-12-12). "Amid measles outbreak, anti-vaccine activists press state not to tighten vaccine exemptions". NorthJersey.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ Davis, Tom (2018-04-16). "Angry Crowd: 'You Are Going To Hell' As NJ Vaccine Bill Advances". Patch. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ Sarlin, Benjy (2015-02-02). "Chris Christie expressed concern about vaccine autism link in '09". MSNBC.
- ^ Rucker, Philip; Helderman S., Rosalind (2015-02-02). "Vaccination debate flares in GOP presidential race, alarming medical experts". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-12-15.