Stop Efforts to Erase Religious Exemptions

PA CHD firmly joins the Pennsylvania Coalition for Informed Consent in making this Call to Action. The new legislative session (2023-2024) has begun! Senator Judith Schwank has re-introduced a bill, SB390, that would require parents who decline some or all v@ccines for religious reasons to: submit to an “education session” on the risks and benefits of v@ccines by a medical professional use a new standard exemption form get the exemption form certified by a medical professional This bill goes against the PA Constitution and would infringe on religious rights and parental rights. It would put us a step closer to losing our exemptions in PA. Call Senator Schwank’s office today, and ask her to withdraw SB390. Her office phone number in Harrisburg is (717) 787-8925. When you’re done calling, send a follow up email to senatorschwank@pasenate.com. Additionally, find Senator Schwank on social media – and respectfully comment on any of her posts asking her to withdraw the bill. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senatorjudyschwank Twitter: https://twitter.com/senjudyschwank Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senjudyschwank/ Here are some talking points to use: This bill is an attack on parental rights.  Parents who have already made decisions for their child will be subjected to possible intimidation and coercion from medical professionals. Parents have the right to decide what is best for their children. This bill attacks religious freedom. The state should not require doctors to intervene on a decision that is a parent’s right to make for their minor children based on their religious beliefs. Most pediatricians will not see patients who are not fully v@xxed according to CDC guidelines. Often, these children are kicked out of practices and left without care. How would the parents be able to get a medical professional to sign off on an exemption if they can’t even get into a doctor’s office? Doctors profit from v@ccines, so they have a conflict of interest when advising patients about them. Specifically, they profit from administering v@ccines, and they receive bonuses from insurance companies based on the percentage of children in their practice who are fully v@xxed. In a few other states (CA, NY, etc.), religious and philosophical exemptions were first weakened, and then completely eliminated. This bill is a first step in taking away our exemptions completely. Who will pay for a visit to a medical professional to get this new form signed? When calling, always stay calm, courteous, and respectful. It’s okay to leave a message. Here in PA, we’ve worked together to hold off attacks on our exemptions for the last 8 years. We need to continue holding the line. Your phone call and other correspondence, which takes just a few minutes, can make a big difference! We need to hold our legislators accountable and let them know that we value our exemptions, our religious freedoms, and our privacy.