MASSACHUSETTS Medical Exemption SB 784 Action Alert

[Kris L. Christine]

Massachusetts Medical Exemption Bill, SB 784 An Act Relative to Rabies Vaccination for Dogs and Cats http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/sena...00/st00784.htm, is scheduled for a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government on July 14 in Hearing Room A2 at 10:00 http://www.mass.gov/legis/186history/s00784.htm

What You Can Do to Help

Please contact the Legislators on the Municipalities and Regional Government Committee (contact information below) and ask them to support Senate Bill #784 and ask everyone you know in Massachusetts to do the same.

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Members of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/j10.htm

Senator James Eldridge, Co-Chair James.Eldridge@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1120 Fax: (617) 722-1089
Senator Patricia Jehlen, Vice-Chair Patricia.Jehlen@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1578 Fax: (617) 722-1117
Senator Susan Fargo Susan.Fargo@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1572
Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz Sonia.Chang-Diaz@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1673
Senator Thomas Kennedy Thomas.P.Kennedy@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1200 Fax: (617) 722-1116
Senator Richard Tisei Richard.Tisei@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1206 Fax: (617) 722-1063
Representative Paul Donato Rep.PaulDonato@hou.state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-2090 Fax: (617) 722-2848
Representative Joyce Spiliotis Rep.JoyceSpiliotis@hou.state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-2430
Representative David Sullivan Rep.DavidSullivan@hou.state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-2666 Fax: 617-722-2821
Representative Sean Curran Rep.SeanCurran@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2263
Representative Angelo Puppolo Rep.AngeloPuppolo@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2011 Fax: (617) 722-2238
Representative Pam Richardson Rep.PamRichardson@hou.state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-2582 Fax: (617) 722-2879
Representative Katherine Clark Rep.KatherineClark@HOU.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2220 Fax: (617) 722-2821
Representative Brian Ashe Rep.BrianAshe@hou.state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-2090 Fax: (617) 722-2848
Representative Timothy Madden Rep.TimothyMadden@hou.state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-2810 Fax: (617) 722-2846
Representative Jay Barrows Rep.FJayBarrows@hou.state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-2488 Fax: (617) 722-2390
Representative Robert Hargraves Rep.RobertHargraves@hou.state.ma.us Phone (617) 722-2305 Fax: (617) 722-2598

[Kris L. Christine]

CORRECTION:

Massachusetts Medical Exemption Bill, SB 784 An Act Relative to Rabies Vaccination for Dogs and Cats http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/sena...00/st00784.htm, has received a "study order" from the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government on 3/9/10. In order for this bill to be reintroduced for passage, the Committee Chairs and the bill sponsors must write a letter to the Rules Committee asking that it be reintroduced.

What You Can Do to Help

Please contact the Legislative Chairs on the Municipalities and Regional Government Committee (contact information below) and the bill sponsor, asking them to request reintroduction of Senate Bill #784 and ask everyone you know in Massachusetts to do the same.

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Members of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/j10.htm

Senator James Eldridge, Co-Chair James.Eldridge@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1120 Fax: (617) 722-1089
Representative Paul Donato Rep.PaulDonato@hou.state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-2090 Fax: (617) 722-2848
Senator Steven Panagiotakos Steven.Panagiotakos@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1630 Fax: (617) 722-1001

[Kris L. Christine]

Update MA Medical Exemption Bill SB 784: 6/29/10 I spoke with a staff person in Senator Eldridge's office this morning, and they said the Senator has been receiving calls requesting that he write the Rules Committee asking that SB 784, the rabies medical exemption bill, be reintroduced for passage and that "It is on his radar." Please continue to call the two Co-Chairs of the the Massachusetts Municipalities and Regional Government Committee asking them to request reintroduction of Senate Bill #784

Senator James Eldridge, Co-Chair James.Eldridge@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1120 Fax: (617) 722-1089
Representative Paul Donato Co-Chair Rep.PaulDonato@hou.state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-2090 Fax: (617) 722-2848

[Kris L. Christine]

Below is a copy of the letter I have just sent to the Chairs of Massachusetts' Joint Commitee on Municipalities and Regional Government on behalf of The Rabies Challenge Fund.

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June 30, 2010

Representative Representative Paul Donato, Co-Chair Senator James Eldridge, Co-Chair
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
State House Room 540 State House Room 213-A
Boston, MA 02133 Boston, MA 02133

RE: Massachusetts Rabies Medical Exemption Bill, SB 784

Greetings Representative Donato and Senator Eldrige:

On behalf of The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust and the many Massachusetts pet owners who have contacted us, we respectfully request that you write the Rules Committee and ask them to reintroduce SB 784, Senator Steven Panagiotakos’ rabies medical exemption bill.

Chapter 140: §145B of the General Laws of Massachusetts implicitly exempts animals from vaccination under some circumstances in the wording “the animal shall be vaccinated against rabies prior to being discharged if the animal's medical condition permits.” However, the law does not explicitly state that a medical waiver exempts an animal from the requirement of being currently immunized against rabies.

The states of Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin all have medical exemption clauses for sick animals in their rabies laws, and a bill is currently pending in the California legislature to include a waiver in its statutes.

The labels on rabies vaccines state that they are for “the vaccination of healthy cats, dogs…,” and there are medical conditions for which vaccination can jeopardize the life or well-being of an animal. Reintroduction and passage of the medical exemption bill, SB 784, clarifying the circumstances under which sick animals could receive exemptions would allow Massachusetts veterinarians to write waivers for animals (such as those who have had anaphylactic reactions to vaccination, or suffer from cancer, kidney/liver failure, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, grand mal seizures, and chronic autoimmune disorders) whose medical conditions would be exacerbated by rabies vaccination. The State of Maine inserted such an exemption into their 3 year rabies protocol, 7 M.R.S.A., Sec. 3922(3), which became effective in April 2005 -- not one rabid dog has been reported in the more than 5 years since that date. Colorado’s data reflect the same -- there have been no rabid dogs reported in the state since passage of their medical exemption in July 2008.

Without a clearly worded medical exemption in Chapter 140: §145B, Massachusetts law imposes an ethical dilemma on veterinarians with seriously ill patients who must either violate their Veterinarian’s Oath and administer a rabies vaccine contrary to the manufacturer’s labeled instructions, or make a recommendation against vaccinating for rabies -- advice which is contrary to the law. Being compelled by law to vaccinate unhealthy animals against rabies also puts veterinarians at risk of being held liable for adverse reactions the animals may suffer, and owners of critically ill animals may decide to not comply with the law rather than jeopardize the lives of their pets by immunizing them.

The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust urges you to write the Rules Committee requesting that SB 784 be reintroduced for passage. You may contact me at the number below if you would like any scientific data on the rabies vaccine or have any questions.

Sincerely,

Kris L. Christine
Founder, Co-Trustee
THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND
www.RabiesChallengeFund.org
ledgespring@lincoln.midcoast.com

cc: Dr. W. Jean Dodds
Dr. Ronald Schultz
Senator Steven Panagiotakos

[Kris L. Christine]

MASSACHUSETTS Medical Exemption Bill SB 784 Update: "Neal" from Senator Eldridge's office left a voice mail on 8/6/10 saying that Senator Eldridge is working on trying to get SB 784 recommitted from Committee and is in negotiations with his House counterpart and hopes to have the bill "reported out" by next week or the week after.

For more information, contact Neal from Senator Eldridge's office: 617-722-1120