NY Parents Say No To HPV, Flu Vaccines In 'Blackout'

NEW YORK, NY — Wearing white scarves and hats, some parents across New York are slated to participate in a "Blackout Day" Thursday to protest HPV and flu vaccines and any other shots administered in school without parental consent. The New York Alliance for Vaccine Rights urged parents to keep children home from school and attend a series of events across the state; the Long Island event will happen at Rockville Centre on Front Street.

"New York parents: pull your children out of school on Thursday, December 5," the alliance wrote on Facebook. "Their absence will send a strong message to NY legislators that should these mandates pass people will not comply."

Parents, children and friends will gather at local offices of New York legislators from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. "to stand in solidarity against a number of bad bills looking to make HPV and annual flu shots mandatory for school and a bill that would allow for HPV shots and other vaccines without parental knowledge or consent," the group said.

The state Senate Health Committee is considering a bill that would require the immunization of all children born after Jan. 1, 2009, with the human papillomavirus vaccine. A similar bill is in committee in the Assembly.

The bills would add HPV to the list of immunizations required for children going to public schools in the state. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two doses for the HPV vaccine are recommended for all boys and girls at ages 11 to 12, but the vaccine can be administered as early as age 9. Medical experts said the older the child, the more doses may be needed. The CDC said the vaccine is safe, and protects they child long before they are ever exposed to cancer-causing infections.

Human papillomavirus, the CDC said, is a common virus that can lead to six types of cancers later in life. Nearly 80 million Americans are currently infected with some type of HPV. About 14 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year.

HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, the CDC said. One can get HPV by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the virus.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, who is sponsoring the Assembly version of the bill, supports the measure.

"Why not give our young people the opportunity to guard against, protect themselves against, anal and cervical cancer?" she said, according to a report by CBS New York.

Senate-sponsor Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, said requiring the HPV vaccine for school children is not without precedence. Virginia, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia currently require the vaccination and Hawaii will join them next summer. There is also legislation pending in at least seven other states.

But not everyone agrees, with many parents raising their voices in protest: As with the recent legislation to eliminate religious exemptions to the measles vaccine requirement, making the HPV vaccine a must is not without controversy.

A report in January by the South Nassau Communities Hospital found that 37 percent of parents said they do not plan or are not sure if they will vaccinate their children against HPV.

While medical professionals said the stigma around HPV and sexual activity shouldn't outweigh the benefits of decreasing a child's risk of certain cancers, some parents see it as governmental overreach — and plan to keep their kids home from school in protest.

"A massive wave of empty seats sends a huge message to Albany and the governor that New York will not accept more mandates," one flyer for Thursday's Blackout Day said.

According to the New York Alliance for Vaccine Rights: "The most threatening" is a bill that would allow minors to get vaccines for hepatitis B at any age, and the human papilloma virus at age nine without parental knowledge or consent. "This means any time your children are out of your sight — doctors are now pushing parents out of the appointments to meet with children only — they can give this to them legally and you would never know," the group said.

Other bills would require seventh grades to be vaccinated in order to attend school; would require annual flu vaccines for all children in the state in order to attend daycare or preschool and K-12; and would allow minors older than 14 to consent to any vaccine without parental knowledge or consent, the group said.

"This is a peaceful event, showing strength in numbers of parents who oppose mandatory vaccine mandates of Gardasil and annual flu shots, and allowing children to make medical decisions without involvement of parents. Whether your children are in school or you're homeschooling, please come with your children and send a strong message to these legislators who may soon be voting on these bills as soon as the session starts January 8," the New York Alliance for Vaccine Rights said. "Feel free to bring signs and flyers to help educate the public about these mandates. Together, we are stronger!" the event page said.

To view a full list of event locations, click here.

With reporting by Michael Woyton.