National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) and Mercola.com Call for Consumer Education and Empowerment During “Vaccine Awareness Week” Sept. 30 – Oct. 6, 2012

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--During the third annual Vaccine Awareness Week (Sept. 30 – Oct. 6, 2012), the non-profit National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC.org) and Dr. Joseph Mercola, founder of the Mercola.com health website, are calling for increased consumer education and empowerment to support informed, voluntary vaccine decision-making in America. A series of articles published during Vaccine Awareness Week on both Mercola.com and NVIC.org websites will focus on:

“Everyone should have the freedom to take control of their health and make educated health care choices for themselves and their children.”

• The impact of government influenza death “estimates” on flu shot mandates, promotion and sales.
• Vaccines using genetically modified organisms and the intersect between pharmaceutical corporations selling vaccines and corporations selling GMO seeds and foods.
• The responsibility of doctors to inform parents about the complications of vaccines, as well as the complications of diseases.
• The importance of becoming educated about both sides of the vaccine safety and informed consent debate by viewing the award-winning documentary “The Greater Good."

Dr. Mercola said “Everyone should have the freedom to take control of their health and make educated health care choices for themselves and their children.” Barbara Loe Fisher, NVIC Co-founder and President, added, “The legal right to make informed, voluntary vaccine choices in America is being taken away by professional lobbyists representing wealthy and powerful special groups working with government health officials to eliminate vaccine exemptions from health laws."

During Vaccine Awareness Week, NVIC and Mercola.com are encouraging citizens to use the free online NVIC Advocacy Portal to defend informed consent protections in state health laws. After the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated all civil liability for drug companies selling vaccines in 2011, lobbyists associated with pharmaceutical corporations, medical trade associations and state health departments worked to pass bills in Washington and Vermont that restrict access to non-medical vaccine exemptions. A bill (AB2109) is on the desk of California Governor Jerry Brown to force parents to obtain the signature of an M.D. or state designated medical worker to obtain a religious or personal belief exemption to vaccination for their children.

About the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC.org): NVIC is a non-profit charity founded in 1982 and is the oldest and largest consumer led vaccine safety organization in the U.S.. NVIC is dedicated to preventing vaccine injuries and deaths through public education and defending the informed consent ethic.

About Dr. Mercola and Mercola.com: Dr. Joseph Mercola is a board certified family medicine physician and founder of one of the largest health information websites in the world. The Mercola.com newsletter reaches more than a million subscribers and health care professionals every day.