Vaccine choice is an issue that is important to many chiropractors (and families) across the
nation. Arizona is no exception. In Arizona, we are fortunate to have all three exemptions
available: medical, religious, and philosophical. However, there is a trend across the nation to
remove exemptions, limit exemptions or make it more difficult to obtain exemptions.
The AAC recently adopted a position statement on health care freedom, which includes the
vaccine choice issue. This position statement is as follows:
The AAC supports an individual’s right to freedom of choice in determining health care decisions
for themselves and their children based upon informed awareness of the benefits and possible
adverse effects of all types of treatment.
We further support medical, philosophical, and religious exemptions regarding any mandatory
health care laws thereby maintaining an individual’s right to freedom of choice in health care
matters.
It has come to our attention that there are two issues related to vaccine choice in Arizona. The
first is a statutory change that would require anyone wishing to use the philosophical exemption
to watch an 8-12 minute video for EACH VACCINE they wish to be exempted from receiving.
While we are not opposed to increased education for parents, we are concerned about the one
sided nature of these videos, as well as the significant burden it will place on an already
overburdened education system in enforcing. It will also impact families that do not have access
to the Internet or printer. Finally, we are concerned about database creation and the potential for
tracking people who exempt their children from vaccines.
The second issue related to vaccine choice is HB 2527. This bill would require schools to post
vaccination rates on their school website. A recent article in the Phoenix New Times on
February 8, 2016 explains the rationale for introducing this legislation.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/legislation-would-force-arizona-schools-to-list-
immunization-rates-for-infectious-diseases-8030686
This legislation is unnecessary as this information is already available for concerned parents to
access. Requiring schools to post this information places an undue burden on the education
system, creates the potential for a child’s privacy to be violated and has the potential to create a
discriminatory and hostile environment in the school setting.
Rest assured that we are abreast of these issues and are working to preserve vaccine choice
and health care freedom in Arizona. But, we need your help! We need your membership as
there is strength in numbers. An organization of 1,000 has more political influence than an
organization of 200. We need your voice. We need you to meet with your legislator and be
willing to make phone calls when necessary and enlist your practice members in this effort. We
need you to rally with us and give us your feedback so that we can better serve the DC’s in
Arizona. And finally, we need your financial support. Your membership dues go to support the
issues that you care about and to bring diverse speakers and relevant continuing education to
you.
We know you are busy, but if you don’t take the time and make the effort to preserve health
care freedom, who will? Please join us in preserving health care freedom and vaccine choice.
Any time, effort or financial support is greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions or would like more information about how you can help, please
contact Dr. Joanne Siebert at drsiebert@azchiropractic.org. She can also be reached at
720.206.9906.