Polly Becker illustration courtesy of Stanford Medicine Magazine. To Read, "Golden Needles, Vaccines For Seniors," click here.

I’ve just read Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole’s latest resolution urging state and federal lawmakers to amend laws to include medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions from vaccination programs.  I am mystified Auntie Emily and her staff are taking on one of those topics that triggers strong opinions and debate. It is such a hot topic, I find myself slowing down my typing to carefully choose my words.

Auntie Emily’s two-page resolution will be taken up at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 in the Human Service and Economic Development Committee she chairs. (Unable to link, full copy of the resolution follows the commentary.)

“In the wake of potential harm to the individual and the public from vaccinations, and the vacillating interpretation of “vaccine science,” it is in the public’s best interest to amend the vaccine laws, to include the right of medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions from mandated vaccination programs,” reads one paragraph of the resolution.   Read the rest of this entry »