Parents in New Jersey are outraged over a new law making it manditory for their children to be given the flu vaccine before they are allowed to enter pre-school or go to day care.
Parents are of the belief that whether or not their child receives the flu shot is their choice, not that of the state, and are fighting the law fiercely.
Over the last few years, a lot of controversy has flared up surrounding the flu vaccine due to its apparent ineffectiveness.
A year ago, the vaccine was only effective in 45% of cases, a fact that many parents believe is a sure sign of how useless it actually is.
Parents are pushing for an amendment that would give them the right to opt their children out of receiving the vaccine, and ralleyed in force outside the New Jersey Statehouse on Thursday.
“This is not an anti-vaccine rally — it’s a freedom of choice rally,” said one of the organizers, Louise Habakus. “This one-size-fits-all approach is really very anti-American.”
Under the law which kicks in this fall, any child between 6 months and 5 years of age who attends day care or pre-school must get the flu vaccine by the end of December.
“Vaccines not only protect the child being vaccinated but also the general community and the most vulnerable individuals within the community,” New Jersey’s Health Department said in a statement.
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