Background Information
In the spring of 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Health was successful in having an omnibus bill—the Protecting Patients Act—pass in the Ontario House with only one dissenting vote. Schedule 2 in this bill is an amendment to the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) that requires parents who are seeking vaccine exemptions for their children to attend “education sessions” about the risk of not vaccinating. Following the session a certificate of attendance will be issued. This certificate must accompany the new exemption form.
The new vaccine exemption form, titled Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief, is different from the previous form in a number of ways. Of interest to us in this report is the Risk of Not Being Vaccinated Statement found at the bottom of page 1 of the form. We refer to this as the “risk statement” in the following discussion.
Our response to the government’s Risk Statement on the new Exemption Form is based on the Ethics of Sound Science and Informed Consent.
Science: The medical establishment considers vaccines effective if they suppress a few targeted illnesses—but at what cost? An emerging body of evidence indicates that vaccines can damage a child’s developing brain and immune system, leading to neurodevelopmental disorders, seizure disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, asthma, anaphylactic food allergies, diabetes and autoimmune disorders. As well, vaccines have been linked to sudden, unexpected death in infancy and early childhood (SIDS). 1
Informed Consent: Vaccine Choice Canada recognizes that vaccines are not without risk and supports the right of each individual to adequate disclosure prior to providing consent…In order to provide truly informed consent, individuals must be apprised of potential risks, benefits and alternatives to vaccination.
Pertinent information should include the actual risk of contracting a particular disease, based upon epidemiological evidence, probable outcome and available treatments. Disclosure should also include vaccine ingredients and their known hazards, possible adverse effects and vaccine efficacy.
Vaccine Choice Canada is opposed to mandatory vaccination, and upholds the right of individuals to exercise “Informed Consent” when considering an invasive medical procedure such as vaccination.
No pressure should be exerted to gain vaccination compliance. No individual should be refused medical treatment or threatened in any way should the individual choose not to vaccinate.2
As we write this document, we know there is a world wide movement to mandate many childhood vaccines and at the same time remove personal belief exemptions and charge parents with negligence who do not vaccinate their children. Thus our response to the most egregious assertion in the risk statement, which basically defines parents as negligent if they do not vaccinate, is one of outrage. When the government makes the assertion below, parents have every right to be concerned:
“With the decision to delay or refuse vaccines, you are accepting responsibility that you are putting your child’s health and even life at risk.”
We say, Parents, Do NOT be Intimidated by these Tactics! Read On…
VCC Response: 2017 Ontario Vaccination Exemption Form (16 page PDF)
Data Sheet from the VCC Response to the 2017 Exemption Form (2 page PDF)
Footnotes
1 Vaccination: Basic Concerns
2 Policy Statement on Vaccination