XP: Do "make getting vaccine exemptions harder" orgs exist?

[water*drop]

I'm normally on MMM, but pennypenny suggested that I post this question over here, too.

I want to start writing letters to government officials because I feel like I need to at least try to do SOMETHING about the high rate of vaccine exemptions in my state (MI). I was looking for organizations that compile information on exemptions, etc, so I don't have to do it all myself (bonus points if they have sample letters to use as a starting point), but I'm mostly finding lots of organizations that promote making exemptions easier to get (which explains so much to me about why the anti-vax movement is so big - they're loud, so people pay attention).



Does anybody know of organizations/groups that are promoting/lobbying for making exemptions harder to get? I feel like I have to be missing something obvious...I mean, I know about the CDC and NIH, but is there anything else with an online presence?


Thanks for any help you can provide!

[sushi]

Yep. I was part of an advocacy group in Denver. very grassroots, but very effective. One of the lead pediatricians at children's was on it.

There's also the hug me I'm vaccinated campaign.

[nursewife]

I would love to be involved with something like this (in Canada). If anyone has info, please pm it to me! I haven't seen any organizations in Canada, but I think our vax rates *may be* higher than the states. Not positive on that though.

[nomad100]

I found this www.immunize.org/resources/part_us.asp Maybe there is group on the list that is what you are looking for.

On the positive side for Michigan, there was recent legislation passed regarding opting out
www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Laws/state-vaccine-requirements/michigan.aspx It isn't perfect but it is a start.

Here is another site that lists pro-vaccination organizations. www.vaccine.org/members.htm

I also found this list of immunization coalitions in MI.
www.izcoalitions.org/search/OrgSearchResults.asp?o_orgname=&o_Addstate=MI&zipmin=&zipmax=&SortOrder=orgname&submit=Search+for+Coalitions

ETA:  I also found this FB group

www.facebook.com/vaccinatemichigan

[alexis]

So this has gotten me thinking. I recently moved to MS, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that it is one of the only states to not allow philosophical and religious exemptions to vaccinating. It has the highest vaccination rate in the country with 99.7% of kindergartners last year being fully vaccinated. Good job Mississippi!

There is now in the house a bill to create religious and philosophical exemptions. Obviously I should write my representative, but what else? I looked to see if there is an organization opposing the bill, but I just found a lot of FB groups in favor, no opposition. I have had brief thoughts about starting a group in opposition, but I'm very nervous about the idea.

I'm worried about bringing a whole host of crazy down on myself. My H made the excellent point that if I do want to create a group on FB,I should do so using an anonymous profile. That seems like a good idea to protect myself and my family, but it also seems like it would make it much harder to get going.

Has anyone ever started a group like this? How do you get it started? I'm not usually a political campaigner, but I do feel strongly about the need to vaccinate. And, this seems like a situation where we should do our best to keep the horse in the barn as it were.

[mouse]

Our pediatrician led a successful effort to make vaccine exemptions somewhat harder to get. I'd ask your kid's pediatrician if s/he knows of any groups or interest. If you need to start one, you'll probably want expert support anyway.

I'd also look at people in public health and the school system.

[ttt]

Here are a couple more links!

shotofprevention.com/

www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/

www.ecbt.org/ 

ETA: Every Child By Two has an "Be an Advocate" section: www.ecbt.org/index.php/get_involved/article/advocate 

[sushi]

Ate you guys on meetup? That's where I've met the advocates I've known.

[cattledogkisses]

My state CDC has been sponsoring pro-vax ads on the radio.