Doctors, vaccine-rights advocates see law differently

TUPELO -- Northeast Mississippi doctors believe taking the Mississippi State Department of Health out of the loop on vaccine exemptions is a prescription for trouble.

"I really have a problem with taking the health department out of it," said New Albany physician Dr. Shane Scott, who is certified in pediatrics and internal medicine. "They're the ones who are going to be called if there's an outbreak."

Last week, the state House passed a bill that would allow any licensed U.S. physician who has examined a child to grant a medical exemption from the vaccines required for school and licensed day cares. To stay alive, the bill must pass out of Senate health committee by March 22 and be considered by the full Senate by March 30.

Current law requires an exemption request to be submitted by a Mississippi-licensed pediatrician, family physician or internist who has examined the child and approved by the health department's district health officers, who are licensed physicians. The health department has said it is willing to work with out-of-state physicians.

Mary Jo Perry, co-director of Mississippi Parents for Vaccine Rights, said the state's laws are out of step with practices in the rest of the country and add unnecessary hurdles for parents and physicians.

"All we're asking for is a real medical exemption," said Perry, who had medical exemptions repeatedly denied for her youngest son after he had convulsions following kindergarten immunizations. "Our children are not healthier for having overbearing Mississippi vaccine laws."

Local physicians said Mississippi has enough health problems without opening the door to the outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases that have hit other states. Whooping cough can be fatal for infants too young to be vaccinated, Scott said. Rubella can cause miscarriage in pregnant women. Cancer patients with compromised immune systems are vulnerable.

"The decision not to vaccinate has wider repercussions than other bad health decisions," Scott said.

When State Health Officer Dr. Mary Currier was honored by the American Medical Association in February, her leadership on vaccines was front and center.

"The state of California modeled its immunization legislation on Mississippi," Hill said. "We have the best immunization record in the country."

Restrictive policy

Last week, the Associated Press reported the state health department granted 155 of 156 requested medical exemptions in 2015.

Perry asserted those numbers don't reflect how restrictive Mississippi's medical exemption policy is. Only 17 exemptions were granted for children entering kindergarten during the 2014-15 school year, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. The remainder, Perry said, were largely annual exemptions for children who should be permanently exempt.

"Our medical exemption law is not working," Perry said.

Concern for health

The strong response of Mississippi physicians against weakening the exemption process doesn't come from financial concerns.

"Pediatricians do not make money on shots; we are paid a small amount to cover the supplies," said Tupelo pediatrician Dr. Nikki Ivancic, who serves as the vice chairwoman of the Mississippi chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "We care about kids and know these diseases are dangerous."

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 6:01 PM with the headline "Doctors, vaccine-rights advocates see law differently ."