Subject: Mandatory Vaccinations in BC

BECAUSE the lower mainland is experiencing another outbreak of measles after years of government inaction to reverse declining vaccination rates; and

BECAUSE media outlets recently reported on the story of an infant who was under close watch because they may have been exposed to measles at BC Children’s Hospital and had not yet reached one year, the age for vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella; and

BECAUSE neighbouring Washington State has recently declared a state of emergency due to a serious measles outbreak; and

BECAUSE BC has an immunization program which provides vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella free of charge; and

BECAUSE as of 2014 (the last time it was checked) less than 1/2 of schools in the lower mainland have vaccination rates of 90% or higher, seven had rates under 60%; and

BECAUSE failure to vaccinate promotes the spread of preventable illnesses and jeopardizes lives and wellbeing of the most medically vulnerable amongst us such as those with compromised immune systems, infants, and the elderly; and

BECAUSE Health Minister Adrian Dix announced recently that as of this Fall students in BC will be required to report their immunization status, but immunizations still will not be required; and

BECAUSE a Change.org petition calling for the implementation of mandatory vaccinations has gathered over 44,000 signatures and is continuing to grow,

THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL WILL write to Health Minister Adrian Dix calling for the implementation of mandatory vaccinations, with appropriate exclusions where medically necessary or on legitimate human rights grounds.

We encourage support for the petition to Premier John Horgan, hosted on Change.org

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