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Vaccine Tracking & Registry Bills
Threaten Privacy
Legislators in Idaho, Texas and North Dakota have introduced bills either expanding electronic vaccine tracking registries or removing informed consent protections from them in violation of medical privacy.
NVIC is actively monitoring vaccine tracking bills and electronically notifying NVIC Advocacy Portal users so they can be put in immediate contact with their own state legislators and voice opposition to the tagging and tracking citizen’s vaccination status by government officials without advance voluntary consent.
NVIC has a 15-year public record of opposing forced enrollment of children and adults in electronic medical records and vaccine tracking systems operated by state and federal agencies that track everyone’s vaccination status without informed consent, which is a violation of medical privacy. [1] [2] [3]
Involuntary Vaccine Tracking Opposed by NVIC
NVIC has a 15-year public record of opposing forced enrollment of children and adults in electronic medical records and vaccine tracking systems operated by state and federal agencies that track everyone’s vaccination status without informed consent, which is a violation of medical privacy. [1] [2] [3]
In the 1990s, NVIC supported the successful efforts of Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education (PROVE) led by PROVE co-founder and president Dawn Richardson to secure voluntary “opt-in” requirements for the electronic vaccine tracking system operated by the Texas state health department.[4]
Dawn is NVIC’s national Director of Advocacy and in 2010 created the online vaccine choice empowerment tool, the NVIC Advocacy Portal. [5]
Government Vaccine Mandates & Tracking: Linked in History
Electronic vaccine tracking systems, which enable U.S. federal and state public health officials to tag children with ID numbers and track their vaccination status have been around since the early 1990s. These 21st century U.S. vaccine tracking systems have their historical roots in government-instituted vaccine laws dating back more than a century.
Vaccine mandates in the United States have been state-based because public health was not defined in the U.S. Constitution as a federal responsibility. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1905 affirmed the legal right of state legislatures to require citizens to be vaccinated for smallpox,[6] which set the stage for an expansion of state-based vaccine laws based on recommendations by federal public health officials.
1990s: Using Social Security Numbers to Tag & Track
The two decade federal health agency initiative to create a national medical records database by tagging citizens with ID numbers at birth (including utilizing the social security number) and electronically monitoring the vaccination status of all children, have been ongoing. Citing concerns over the mobilization of society and loss of personal medical records, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) argues that, by the age of two, over 20% of the children in the United States have been seen by more than one health care provider. CDC officials say that a national tracking system could “help providers and families by consolidating immunization information into one reliable source.”[7]
Soon after taking office as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton in 1993, Donna Shalala moved to initiate the President’s “Comprehensive Childhood Immunization Initiative,” designed to make vaccines available to all children in the United States. Within that plan was a proposal for the planning and implementation of a federally operated electronic vaccine tracking database.[8]
This plan was met with strong public opposition and, following efforts by a coalition of medical privacy advocates, including NVIC, the bill was modified to eliminate the language authorizing creation of a national, federally operated vaccine tracking system[9]
State Vaccine Tracking Registries Emerge
A few months later, however, a bill was passed by Congress that included budgeting for the establishment of state-operated vaccine registry systems to monitor the vaccination status of all children.[10],[11] This federal law was followed by the introduction of the federal National Vaccine Plan to vaccinate every child in the United States and endorsement of the Children’s Vaccine Initiative (CVI), which extended that goal to include vaccinating all the children of the world.9
Widespread Use of State Vaccination Registries
These IISs were defined as “confidential, population-based, computerized databases that record all immunization doses administered by participating providers to persons residing within a given geopolitical area.”[13]
These state-based IISs also have the technological capability of integrating with a federally created and monitored Electronic Health Records (EHRs) system into which everyone accessing health care services in the U.S. is enrolled.[14]
These state-based IISs also have the technological capability of integrating with a federally created and monitored Electronic Health Records (EHRs) system into which everyone accessing health care services in the U.S. is enrolled.[14]
As early as 1995, the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, working with the Immunization Grantee Working Group, and with input from the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC), public health representatives, and private health care providers, had agreed on a set of core electronic data set items for gathering vaccine status information on all children and adults, such as name, date of birth, race, gender, and mother’s name and maiden name, and state/country of birth; optional items include social security number and address.[15]
A recent expansion of the IIS is the CDC’s Vaccine Tracking System (“VTrckS”), which is one element of the agency’s much larger Vaccine Management Plan (VACMAN).
The Vaccine Tracking System, or “VTrckS”
A recent expansion of the IIS is the CDC’s Vaccine Tracking System (“VTrckS”), which is one element of the agency’s much larger Vaccine Management Plan (VACMAN).
Originally launched at four pilot sites in Michigan, Colorado, Washington and Chicago in December of 2010, this federal grant program had grown to include 64 grantees as of August 2012. VACMAN is an integrated “tool for customizing, recording, transmitting, and managing vaccine data,” with the VTrckS portion designed to allow health care providers to manage their vaccine orders online via a federal registry.15
The Vaccine Tracking System (VTrckS) integrates the publicly-funded vaccine supply chain from purchasing and ordering to distribution of the vaccine. It allows healthcare providers to order vaccines directly. The system also evaluates vaccine orders against specific guidelines set by state, local and territorial health department grantees and CDC.
A CDC goal is to enable the electronic health records of state and local health departments to share data with IISs, and to integrate those systems with CDC’s own (VTrckS) vaccine tracking system.15
The Vaccine Tracking System (VTrckS) integrates the publicly-funded vaccine supply chain from purchasing and ordering to distribution of the vaccine. It allows healthcare providers to order vaccines directly. The system also evaluates vaccine orders against specific guidelines set by state, local and territorial health department grantees and CDC.
A CDC goal is to enable the electronic health records of state and local health departments to share data with IISs, and to integrate those systems with CDC’s own (VTrckS) vaccine tracking system.15
As stated on the CDC website, “by implementing an integrated system based on a modern technology platform, CDC is laying a long-term foundation for effectively managing publicly-funded vaccine.”[16]
As the federal goverment moves to expand adult and child use of vaccines through achievement of Healthy People 2020 goals,[17] [18] including forcing adults as well as children into electronic vaccine tracking systems, NVIC is working with citizens in every state to defend medical records privacy and voluntary vaccine choices.
NVIC Defending Medical Privacy and Vaccine Choice
As the federal goverment moves to expand adult and child use of vaccines through achievement of Healthy People 2020 goals,[17] [18] including forcing adults as well as children into electronic vaccine tracking systems, NVIC is working with citizens in every state to defend medical records privacy and voluntary vaccine choices.
Register here to read more about the status of vaccine tracking bills in Texas, Idaho and North Dakota and bills threatening vaccine choices in other states and join the tens of thousands of Americans using the free online NVIC Advocacy Portal to stand up for medical privacy and informed consent rights.
References:
___________________________
[1] Fisher BL. Statement on Immunization Registries, Privacy and Confidentiality. National Vaccine Advisory Committee. May 14, 1998.
[2] Fisher BL. The National Electronic Vaccine Tracking Registry: How the Plan to Force Vaccination Gave Birth to the National ID, A Government Health Records Database and the End to Medical Privacy. National Vaccine Information Center. July, 1999.
[3] Fisher BL. Letter to DHHS Secretary on Proposed Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information. Feb. 15, 2000.
[4] PROVE. The Texas Immunization Registry Controversy Summary. VaccineInfo.net. April 5, 2008.
[5] Dawn Richardson. Biography. NVIC.org. 2010.
[6] Jacobsen v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11(1905. LSU Law Center.
[7] CDC. CDC Immunization Information Systems (IIS). 2013.
[8] Public Health Report. The Child Immunization Initiative. July-Aug., 1993.
[9] FisherBL. Tracking System and Privacy. July 1999.
[10] Congressional Bill. Comprehensive Child Immunization Act. April, 1993.
[11] Tracking Your Children Down: State and Federal Immunization Registries. VaccineInfo.net. April 5, 2008
[12] CDC. Progress in Immunization Information Systems. June 29, 2012.
[13] CDC. About Immunization Information Systems. May 15, 2012.
[14] HIMSS. Integration of Immunization Systems With CDC’s Vaccine Tracking System 2011.
[15] CDC. Vaccine Management System (VACMAN). October 31, 2012.
[16] CDC. Vaccine Tracking System (VTrckS). April 3, 2012
[17] U.S. Department of Health & Human Service. Healthy People 2020 Goals.
[18] Fisher BL. Women, Vaccines & Bodily Integrity. NVIC Newsletter. January, 2013.
by Dawn Richardson, NVIC Director of Advocacy
State legislatures are beginning the process of winding down their sessions for passing or blocking proposed new laws across the country.
References:
___________________________
[1] Fisher BL. Statement on Immunization Registries, Privacy and Confidentiality. National Vaccine Advisory Committee. May 14, 1998.
[2] Fisher BL. The National Electronic Vaccine Tracking Registry: How the Plan to Force Vaccination Gave Birth to the National ID, A Government Health Records Database and the End to Medical Privacy. National Vaccine Information Center. July, 1999.
[3] Fisher BL. Letter to DHHS Secretary on Proposed Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information. Feb. 15, 2000.
[4] PROVE. The Texas Immunization Registry Controversy Summary. VaccineInfo.net. April 5, 2008.
[5] Dawn Richardson. Biography. NVIC.org. 2010.
[6] Jacobsen v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11(1905. LSU Law Center.
[7] CDC. CDC Immunization Information Systems (IIS). 2013.
[8] Public Health Report. The Child Immunization Initiative. July-Aug., 1993.
[9] FisherBL. Tracking System and Privacy. July 1999.
[10] Congressional Bill. Comprehensive Child Immunization Act. April, 1993.
[11] Tracking Your Children Down: State and Federal Immunization Registries. VaccineInfo.net. April 5, 2008
[12] CDC. Progress in Immunization Information Systems. June 29, 2012.
[13] CDC. About Immunization Information Systems. May 15, 2012.
[14] HIMSS. Integration of Immunization Systems With CDC’s Vaccine Tracking System 2011.
[15] CDC. Vaccine Management System (VACMAN). October 31, 2012.
[16] CDC. Vaccine Tracking System (VTrckS). April 3, 2012
[17] U.S. Department of Health & Human Service. Healthy People 2020 Goals.
[18] Fisher BL. Women, Vaccines & Bodily Integrity. NVIC Newsletter. January, 2013.
State Legislative Updates:
The Final Days and What You Can Do to Help
by Dawn Richardson, NVIC Director of AdvocacyState legislatures are beginning the process of winding down their sessions for passing or blocking proposed new laws across the country.
The National Vaccine Information Center has tracked and issued positions on an unprecedented 108 bills across 35 states in the 2013 Legislative sessions. We are grateful for our NVIC activist supporters in so many states, who have really come through and utilized the information and guidelines we post on the NVIC Advocacy Portal to educate legislators around the country about good and bad bills.
There are still a handful of states with later deadlines that have some outstanding bills where your effort to contact your state legislators and educate them could really make a difference in the outcome. Even if your state is not listed, we could use everyone’s help to contact the families you know in the states where action needs to be taken to let them know about the pending bills and what they can do to help.
There are still a handful of states with later deadlines that have some outstanding bills where your effort to contact your state legislators and educate them could really make a difference in the outcome. Even if your state is not listed, we could use everyone’s help to contact the families you know in the states where action needs to be taken to let them know about the pending bills and what they can do to help.
For each of the bills listed, more information is posted at http://NVICAdvocacy.org.
Oregon - OPPOSE SB 132
SB 132 completely removes Oregon’s longstanding statutorily protected religious exemption to vaccination (ORS 433.267 (1) (c)) and instead inserts a limited personal exemption controlled by doctors and the health department. SB 132 forces a parent to use a government issued and controlled form when current law only requires a simple written statement of religious exemption from the parent. Additionally, SB 132 forces the parent to submit themselves to a lecture by a doctor or state approved health care practitioner about vaccination and obtain their signature on the government form OR to complete a state government defined vaccine education module and obtain and show certification of completion for the exemption to be valid. If these restrictive new barriers are not fully complied with, the child will be denied an education. This dangerous bill, the committee report, and the minority report are scheduled to be considered on Tuesday May 28th in the Oregon Senate.
SB 132 was specifically requested by the Oregon Pediatric Society with the intention of making the vaccine exemption process more burdensome on parents. It is filed under the false assumption that parents making the decision to delay or decline a vaccine are not “educated” enough on the benefits and risks of vaccination.
Please immediately contact your State Senator and ask them to OPPOSE SB 132.
New York - OPPOSE A497
A497 allows for children to be vaccinated for sexually transmitted diseases without parental consent. The bill is awaiting a third reading in the Assembly.
A497 completely ignores the facts that vaccination is a medical procedure using a pharmaceutical product that can cause injury or death and that some individuals are at greater risk for harm from vaccination than others.
If a minor child is vaccinated without a parent’s knowledge or consent, the parent will not know how to monitor the child for signs of a vaccine reaction and, if the child dies or is left permanently injured, the parent is legally financially responsible for their child’s care.
Many parents (and legislators) do not know that in 2011 the U.S. Supreme Court completely removed all civil liability from pharmaceutical companies selling vaccines and that doctors and other medical personnel giving vaccines to children are also protected from vaccine injury lawsuits.
NVIC supports the ethical principle of informed consent to medical risk taking, including vaccination, and defends the legal right of parents of minor children to make medical decisions, including vaccine decisions, for their minor children.
NVIC supports the ethical principle of informed consent to medical risk taking, including vaccination, and defends the legal right of parents of minor children to make medical decisions, including vaccine decisions, for their minor children.
HPV and hepatitis B vaccines, as well as vaccines currently in development for other sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes, gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV/AIDS, should not be placed in a special category to allow legally unaccountable doctors or other individuals to persuade a minor child to get vaccinated without the knowledge or consent of the parent.
If you would like to see NVIC’s statement of opposition to A497, click here.
Please contact your Assembly Member and ask them to VOTE NO on A497.
HB 664, an act relative to the NH Vaccine Association, imposes a new, limitless tax assessment on every self-insured business and municipality in the state of New Hampshire to fund the purchase of vaccines. HB 664 is expected to be voted on by the full Senate on May 30, 2013.
HB 664 puts unpredictable and uncontrollable financial burdens on the people of New Hampshire to fund unlimited vaccine purchases. Vaccines would be purchased for everyone. This could impose pressure to vaccinate everyone for all vaccines regardless of whether someone believes the vaccine is safe, necessary, or even effective.
Please contact your State Senator and ask them to VOTE NO on HB 664.
HB 317 would require parents be informed of the ingredients contained in vaccines prior to the vaccine being administered to a child under the age of 7. HB 317 has been referred to the House Health Care Committee.
In spite of the vaccine safety informing, recording and reporting provisions included in the federal National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, many doctors and other medical personnel administering vaccines to children don’t take the time to fully educate parents about the vaccines they give. This bill would legally require a vaccine administrator to inform parents about the ingredients contained in each vaccine. This is needed because some children are allergic to certain ingredients and some ingredients have a documented history of causing serious health problems. Parents need to be given this information to help them make an informed decision about each vaccine they are considering for their child.
Please contact members of the House Health Care Committee and your State Representative and ask them to SUPPORT HB 317.
Draft LRB0020 (no flu vaccine mandates for employees) prohibits employers from requiring employees to get a flu shot. This draft is about to be assigned a bill number and needs our full support through the legislature.
This is a much needed piece of legislation to slow down the freight train of employer based vaccine mandates. We have heard from healthcare workers around the country who have had their jobs threatened and terminated for declining annual flu shots or other vaccines, even when they have medical reasons for refusing one or more vaccines.
If you have experienced threats to or loss of your job due to employer based vaccine mandates, please share your story with us on our NVIC Cry for Vaccine Freedom Wall. We may be able to use it to help educate legislators.
Please contact your State Representative and Senator and ask them to SUPPORT Draft LRB0020 (no flu vaccine mandates for employees). Check back on the NVIC Advocacy Portal for a bill number assignment.
Register for the NVIC Advocacy Portal Today
If you haven’t already, please take a minute to register for the NVIC Advocacy Portal athttp://NVICAdvocacy.org. It is a free public service of the National Vaccine information center designed and operated specifically to help protect vaccine exemptions and your right to make independent and educated vaccination decisions. You will receive email updates when action is needed in your state, and you can log in anytime and view current information on pending legislation that affects your informed consent rights.
Launch of App Tracking Vaccine Refusals Sparks Concerns - NVIC co-founder and President Barbara Loe Fisher was quoted in this article saying the new iPhone app developed by University of Iowa violates privacy rights. “Vaccine Refused” is designed to track where and why patients are declining to get one or more vaccines. Barbara is quoted in saying, “We oppose vaccine tracking and surveillance systems that do not include strong opt-in, informed consent protections for citizens to prevent civil and human rights abuses.” The Des Moines Register, May 12, 2013.
W.Va. Girl Who Refused Vaccines Marches with Class - A valedictorian banned from attending high school after refusing state-mandated vaccinations will attend public high school graduation services. The guest speaker at the graduation is Circuit Court Judge Jaymie Godwin Wilfong, who ordered the school district to provide home instruction for the honors student after she was banned from school. San Francisco Chronicle, May 24, 2013.
One in Five Kids Experience Mental Disorders Annually - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report indicating that every year, between 13 percent and 20 percent of U.S. children experience a mental disorder, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) being the most common, followed by depression. Childhood mental disorders cost $247 billion annually and their prevalence among children has increased from 1994 to 2011. The CDC also noted that among children aged 12 years to 17 years, suicide was the leading cause of death in 2010. CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 17, 2013.
Prevalence of flu shots unchanged during recent winters - Between 39 percent and 44 percent of Americans received flu shots during the past five winters, a new Harris Poll shows. Further, 15 percent of those who did not get a flu shot reported having the flu in 2013. Overall, 47 percent of the survey respondents said they plan to get the flu shot next winter and 40 percent said they will not get it. Harris Poll, May 14, 2013.
Media Surveillance System Monitors Media Coverage of Vaccines - Using an automated data collection system, researchers assessed 10,380 media mentions of vaccines across 144 countries between 2011 and 2012. In total, 69 percent contained positive or neutral content and 31 percent contained negative content. Among the negative reports, 24 percent referred to vaccine programs and disease outbreaks, 21 percent referred to beliefs, awareness and perceptions and 16 percent focused on vaccine safety. Lancet Infectious Diseases, May 13, 2013.
Heroin Vaccine Tested in Rats - Researchers tested a new vaccine that creates antibodies to attack heroin and its psychoactive products and prevents heroin from reaching the brain. The preclinical study found that heroin-dependent rats exhibited fewer signs of addiction when given the vaccine. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, May 6, 2013 and Scripps Research Institute, May 6, 2013.
Federal Vaccine Advisory Committee Meetings:
Jun. 6-7, Sep. 5-6, and Dec. 5-6, 2013: Meeting dates for the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines
Jun. 11-12, and Sep. 10-11, 2013: Meeting dates for the National Vaccine Advisory Committee. Meetings are open to members of the public.
Jun. 19-20, and Oct. 23-24, 2013: Meeting dates for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and pre-registration is required - deadline Feb. 4.
Sep. 18-19 and Nov. 13-14, 2013: Tentative meeting dates for the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.
If you would like to see NVIC’s statement of opposition to A497, click here.
Please contact your Assembly Member and ask them to VOTE NO on A497.
New Hampshire - OPPOSE HB 664
HB 664, an act relative to the NH Vaccine Association, imposes a new, limitless tax assessment on every self-insured business and municipality in the state of New Hampshire to fund the purchase of vaccines. HB 664 is expected to be voted on by the full Senate on May 30, 2013.
HB 664 puts unpredictable and uncontrollable financial burdens on the people of New Hampshire to fund unlimited vaccine purchases. Vaccines would be purchased for everyone. This could impose pressure to vaccinate everyone for all vaccines regardless of whether someone believes the vaccine is safe, necessary, or even effective.
Please contact your State Senator and ask them to VOTE NO on HB 664.
Missouri - SUPPORT HB 317
HB 317 would require parents be informed of the ingredients contained in vaccines prior to the vaccine being administered to a child under the age of 7. HB 317 has been referred to the House Health Care Committee.
In spite of the vaccine safety informing, recording and reporting provisions included in the federal National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, many doctors and other medical personnel administering vaccines to children don’t take the time to fully educate parents about the vaccines they give. This bill would legally require a vaccine administrator to inform parents about the ingredients contained in each vaccine. This is needed because some children are allergic to certain ingredients and some ingredients have a documented history of causing serious health problems. Parents need to be given this information to help them make an informed decision about each vaccine they are considering for their child.
Please contact members of the House Health Care Committee and your State Representative and ask them to SUPPORT HB 317.
Wisconsin
- SUPPORT Draft LRB0020
(no flu vaccine mandates for employees)
This is a much needed piece of legislation to slow down the freight train of employer based vaccine mandates. We have heard from healthcare workers around the country who have had their jobs threatened and terminated for declining annual flu shots or other vaccines, even when they have medical reasons for refusing one or more vaccines.
If you have experienced threats to or loss of your job due to employer based vaccine mandates, please share your story with us on our NVIC Cry for Vaccine Freedom Wall. We may be able to use it to help educate legislators.
Please contact your State Representative and Senator and ask them to SUPPORT Draft LRB0020 (no flu vaccine mandates for employees). Check back on the NVIC Advocacy Portal for a bill number assignment.
Register for the NVIC Advocacy Portal Today
If you haven’t already, please take a minute to register for the NVIC Advocacy Portal athttp://NVICAdvocacy.org. It is a free public service of the National Vaccine information center designed and operated specifically to help protect vaccine exemptions and your right to make independent and educated vaccination decisions. You will receive email updates when action is needed in your state, and you can log in anytime and view current information on pending legislation that affects your informed consent rights.
NVIC in the News
Launch of App Tracking Vaccine Refusals Sparks Concerns - NVIC co-founder and President Barbara Loe Fisher was quoted in this article saying the new iPhone app developed by University of Iowa violates privacy rights. “Vaccine Refused” is designed to track where and why patients are declining to get one or more vaccines. Barbara is quoted in saying, “We oppose vaccine tracking and surveillance systems that do not include strong opt-in, informed consent protections for citizens to prevent civil and human rights abuses.” The Des Moines Register, May 12, 2013.
In the News
W.Va. Girl Who Refused Vaccines Marches with Class - A valedictorian banned from attending high school after refusing state-mandated vaccinations will attend public high school graduation services. The guest speaker at the graduation is Circuit Court Judge Jaymie Godwin Wilfong, who ordered the school district to provide home instruction for the honors student after she was banned from school. San Francisco Chronicle, May 24, 2013.
One in Five Kids Experience Mental Disorders Annually - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report indicating that every year, between 13 percent and 20 percent of U.S. children experience a mental disorder, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) being the most common, followed by depression. Childhood mental disorders cost $247 billion annually and their prevalence among children has increased from 1994 to 2011. The CDC also noted that among children aged 12 years to 17 years, suicide was the leading cause of death in 2010. CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 17, 2013.
Prevalence of flu shots unchanged during recent winters - Between 39 percent and 44 percent of Americans received flu shots during the past five winters, a new Harris Poll shows. Further, 15 percent of those who did not get a flu shot reported having the flu in 2013. Overall, 47 percent of the survey respondents said they plan to get the flu shot next winter and 40 percent said they will not get it. Harris Poll, May 14, 2013.
Media Surveillance System Monitors Media Coverage of Vaccines - Using an automated data collection system, researchers assessed 10,380 media mentions of vaccines across 144 countries between 2011 and 2012. In total, 69 percent contained positive or neutral content and 31 percent contained negative content. Among the negative reports, 24 percent referred to vaccine programs and disease outbreaks, 21 percent referred to beliefs, awareness and perceptions and 16 percent focused on vaccine safety. Lancet Infectious Diseases, May 13, 2013.
Heroin Vaccine Tested in Rats - Researchers tested a new vaccine that creates antibodies to attack heroin and its psychoactive products and prevents heroin from reaching the brain. The preclinical study found that heroin-dependent rats exhibited fewer signs of addiction when given the vaccine. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, May 6, 2013 and Scripps Research Institute, May 6, 2013.
NVIC Calendar Notes
Jun. 6-7, Sep. 5-6, and Dec. 5-6, 2013: Meeting dates for the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines
Jun. 11-12, and Sep. 10-11, 2013: Meeting dates for the National Vaccine Advisory Committee. Meetings are open to members of the public.
Jun. 19-20, and Oct. 23-24, 2013: Meeting dates for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and pre-registration is required - deadline Feb. 4.
Sep. 18-19 and Nov. 13-14, 2013: Tentative meeting dates for the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.