Margaret Jenkins RN

HB1719 Removing Hepatitis B from the list of diseases for which immunization is required under state law Kelly Potenza-R, Keith Murphy-R, Kim Kofalt-R, Liz Barbour-R, Linda McGrath-R, Robert Wherry-R, Susan Deroy-R, Mike Drago-R, Matt Drew-R Contrary to stated reports that Hepatitis B is only a sexually transmitted disinfection. Hepatitis B vaccine, at birth, gives immediate protection to children from exposure.. Some children are put in daycare at a very early age. Parents need to take their children places. It has been proven that Hep B lives outside the body for up to seven days on an inanimate surface I ask this of all the sponsors of these bills: Do you want YOUR name attached to a bill that contributes to an outbreak of a Vaccine Preventable Disease in NH? Do you want YOUR name attached to a bill that ends up with the death of a child from NH (or anywhere for that matter) from a vaccine preventable disease? The AAP American Academy of Physicians (who have gone to medical school and have YEARS, if not decades of training) support the previous iteration of the vaccine schedule that existed until it became a political football. The person in charge of DHHS is NOT a medical person, NOR has been willing to work with seasoned medical professionals. He has a political agenda which, IMHO, is horrifying. He supported cutting cancer research finding which is mindboggling in that he has had close family members affected by cancer. Ted Kennedy Jr lost a leg back in the 70s due to osteosarcoma. He was able to undergo chemo and remain in public schools because of the herd immunity of his classmates. His other cousin just passed away this week. How can you look at his actions and think they are appropriate? I ask, as a nurse with 43 years of nursing experience and a school nurse with 32 years of experience, as well as 17 years in family practice (part time) that you choose NOT to support these bills. The quick answer is that it allows choice. But I think we are all smart enough to understand that this will be an opening for the insurance companies to not continue to pay for these. And make no mistake, there is never financial reimbursement to healthcare providers for giving immunizations, EVER. This will be an out of packet expense for parents, an unintended consequence (I hope) of these bills. But maybe not? Maybe that IS the end game.