5 Reasons to remove HPV vaccine mandate in AB 659

 5 Reasons to remove HPV vaccine mandate in AB 659:

1.    Existing California law makes access to the HPV vaccine easily and readily available without parental consent or knowledge.

California already has 2 HPV policies:

•  Children currently learn about HPV at school with the required sex ed curriculum, AND

• California reproductive rights laws allow 8th graders/minors 12 and older to consent to the HPV vaccine, medical diagnosis, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections without parental knowledge or consent. (SB 158: Weiner)

Furthermore, California has policies for prevention education and access that appear to be effective based on rising HPV vaccination rates without mandating the vaccine for school enrollment. With a current HPV vaccination rate of 75% for adolescents without a mandate, the insurance portion of this bill will also expand access.

 There are more effective approaches to prevent the spread of hpv and lower the rate of cancer. Public health officials have long recommended the Pap test (also known as Pap Smear), which detects abnormalities in cervical tissue, and HPV DNA testing, as the most effective frontline public health response to the disease.

2.    In order to ensure a robust and diversified student population, the focus should be on minimal requirements for school enrollment.

HPV is not transmitted in a classroom setting and an HPV vaccine mandate is not necessary to be safe at school. School is compulsory and must be easily accessible for all children in California. Required Vaccine policies with limited exemptions have placed barriers for tens of thousands of students to attend public and private school. These type of medical intervention mandates take choice from parents, while adding distrust and skepticism to our education system.

Access rather than mandates support vaccination rates without risk of further impacting the enrollment rates. Mandated vaccinations and removal of exemptions has been a contributing factor for a concerning decrease in school enrollment since the 2014-2015 school year. Enrollment rates across the state have been in decline since the 2014-2015 school year, losing over 300,000 students in less than a decade. Working to improve cancer prevention without creating additional requirements for school enrollment is a priority.

          Vaccination Laws currently eliminating exemptions:

●     SB 277 (2015) Eliminated Personal and Religious Belief exemptions to immunization.

●     SB 276 (2019) Made the Medical Exemption unattainable for vaccine vulnerable families.

3.    Cancer prevention should not be a requirement for school enrollment.

A mandate to protect yourself from cancer is not a necessary requirement for children to participate in school when the HPV Vaccine manufacturer clearly states this vaccine DOES NOT PREVENT all HPV related cancer nor provides protection in ALL recipients. AB 659 “Cancer Prevention Act” directly contradicts the Vaccine manufacturers own fact sheet.

4.    Unlike other required vaccines, the HPV vaccine is the subject of multiple cases of current litigation for adverse reactions in teen girls. There have been over 59,831 serious adverse events including death. Considering that there is only 1 HPV vaccine available, and it is under scrutiny in the courts, this is not a good candidate for a statewide mandate. The law offices of Wisner Baum LLP, who represent hundreds of Gardasil injured girls and boys stated:

 “Hundreds of young women and men across the United States are filing lawsuits against the manufacturer of Gardasil (Merck) claiming Gardasil caused them to suffer serious life altering side effects, including death. Several cases are pending in various California state courts, and the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation recently consolidated all federally filed Gardasil cases before one judge in North Carolina.”

5.    Religiously held beliefs. If a family has religious reasons to decline the HPV vaccine, there are no current adequate exemptions that would allow them to exercise their first amendment rights and respect their sincerely held religious beliefs.

 Sources:

AB659https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/face/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB659

SB277-https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB277

SB276-https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB276

HPV Rates: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7035a1.htm#T1_down

Gardasil:https://www.fda.gov/files/vaccines,%20blood%20&%20biologics/published/Package-Insert---Gardasil.pdf

School rates: https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr22/yr22rel20.asp

AdverseReactions:https://wonder.cdc.gov/controller/datarequest/D8;jsessionid=2BF198235C886EEFF760EEF7672A

Abstinence: http://www.ampartnership.org/most-students-choose-abstinence/

TOOL BOX FOR OPPOSING AB 659

Action Steps This Week: March 1st

AB 659 - HPV (Aguiar-Curry)

This bill, the Cancer Prevention Act, would add human papillomavirus (HPV) to the described list of diseases for which immunization documentation is required for school. The bill would specifically prohibit the governing authority from unconditionally admitting or advancing any pupil to the 8th grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school if the pupil has not been fully immunized against HPV.

The bill would clarify the department’s authority to adopt HPV-related regulations for grades below the 8th grade level. By creating new duties for school districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

• California would be the first state to have an HPV vaccine mandate without non-medical exemptions available (Personal or religious belief exemptions would not be available).

• The bill would allow for the California Department of Health's authority to use HPV-related regulations for students

Action Steps

1. Ask your outside organizations, unions, religious leaders and/or school district superintendents to submit an official letter of opposition opposing AB 659 to Assembly Health Committee via legislative portal. Submit letters by March 7th.

2. Contact your Assemblymember (Find your Rep) to formally register your opposition to AB 659. Also, Phone and Email your letter to the CA Assembly Health Committee directly.

3. Submit your letter of opposition no later than March 7th via the Legislative Portal. Instructions here: how to submit a letter.

4. Post a copy of your letter to legislators and tag all the Assembly Health Committee social media pages. Asking them “I have sent this to you today. Did you read my letter of opposition?” #NoOnAB659

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH LEGISLATORS. DON”T GIVE THEM A REASON TO DISMISS YOU!

Use these hashtags when posting #PERKgroup #Savethekids #protectourkids #CAleg #capolitics #cadems #caassembly #cabudget #parentsareessential #parents #children #PERKadvocacy #advocacy #forthekids #health #healthfreedom #mybodymychoice #choice #bodilyautonomy #healthequity #equityforstudents

Resources

Legislative Portal Link

How to submit a letter to legislative portal.

Talking Points

Assembly Health Committee Contacts

CALL TO ACTION: OPPOSE AB 659 HPV VACCINE MANDATE BILL

California AB 659-Cancer Prevention Act also known as the HPV Vaccine Mandate bill for school kids was introduced by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, and co-authored Assembly Members Wendy Carrillo, Friedman, Kalra, Ortega, Papan, and Blanca Rubio and Senator Wiener.  

AB 659 will require the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to attend 8-12 grade in public or private school, starting January 1 2024. 

The bill would clarify the department’s authority to adopt HPV-related regulations for grades below the 8th grade level. By creating new duties for school districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

• California would be the first state to have an HPV vaccine mandate without non-medical exemptions available. (No Personal or religious belief exemptions.)

• The bill would allow for the California Department of Health's authority to use HPV-related regulations for students.

• This bill is another obstacle for equal access to education.

Status of Bill

2/21/23 - This bill has been assigned to Assembly Health Committee. May be heard in committee March 15.

ACTION STEPS FOR THIS WEEK:

1. Contact the CA Assembly Health Committee directly. By calling and emailing them directly.

2. Submit your letter of opposition via the Legislative Portal by March 3rd. Instructions on how to do this here. Your letter of opposition submitted in this portal will be part of the legislative analysis.

3. Meet with your CA Assembly Member office to discuss your opposition to AB 659. (Find your Rep)

4. Meet with your Religious Leaders to ask them to oppose AB 659 via legislative portal.

5. Meet with your School Board Members to discuss AB 659 and ask them to oppose the bill via legislative portal.

* As always, maintain a professional demeanor when communicating with legislators and leaders.

Submit your letter of opposition to the legislative portal by Friday March 3rd.

Ask organizations, faith leaders and unions to also submit their opposition as well. A significant factor in defeating bills last year was getting unions and outside organizations to show their unity in opposition to these bills. This shows the legislators who is opposing the bills and makes them think twice about their vote. 

Talking points to use when contacting your legislator:

1. This bill would continue to decrease school enrollment when families are forced into a medical intervention in order to attend school.

2. In order to increase school enrollment, there should be minimal requirements for kids to receive an education.

3. HPV is NOT transmitted in a classroom setting, is there an urgent need for this bill? 

We are more than happy to help you set up meetings with your legislator and consult with you on the best plan of action for your meeting!

If you are interested in a consult or hosting us to Educate your community on this bill, please email: 
Info@PERK-Group.com

Colleges with NO COVID VAX MANDATE.

No Mandate College list

Click here for the full list of all colleges of that don’t have CV 19 vaccine mandates. *This list is for your reference only.
PLEASE VERIFY the status of a college's policies by checking the college’s website itself.
# Look for additional protocols required of unvaccinated students if any.
# Policies and website links change very frequently, and accordingly, the info here may no longer be current. And, now that CDC has changed recommendations, colleges may decide to make further changes.
# Check the remainder of the college's website for the college's most recent information, especially: (1) a coronavirus section (2) a student health section, where student immunization requirements may be listed.
# STUDENT EMPLOYEES and HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS are often subject to additional vaccine requirements not indicated here