Tuesday, August 23, 2016

NOW ON DVD! Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe

Pre-order Vaxxed Documentary here! https://www.amazon.com/Vaxxed-Cover-Up-Catastrophe-Del-Bigtree/dp/B01IHSJO6M/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=larrycook-20

Every parent, doctor and concerned citizen should watch this chilling documentary!

Pre-Order Vaxxed On Amazon.com for $24.95
In 2013, biologist Dr. Brian Hooker received a call from a Senior Scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who led the agency's 2004 study on the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine and its link to autism.

The scientist, Dr. William Thompson, confessed that the CDC had omitted crucial data in their final report that revealed a causal relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism. Over several months, Dr. Hooker records the phone calls made to him by Dr. Thompson who provides the confidential data destroyed by his colleagues at the CDC.

Dr. Hooker enlists the help of Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the British gastroenterologist falsely accused of starting the anti-vax movement when he first reported in 1998 that the MMR vaccine may cause autism. In his ongoing effort to advocate for children's health, Wakefield directs this documentary examining the evidence behind an appalling cover-up committed by the government agency charged with protecting the health of American citizens.

Interviews with pharmaceutical insiders, doctors, politicians, and parents of vaccine-injured children reveal an alarming deception that has contributed to the skyrocketing increase of autism and potentially the most catastrophic epidemic of our lifetime.


CLICK HERE
to pre-order (September 13 ship date).

 

 

 

Thursday, August 18, 2016

The Documentary Movie: Now available for streaming video at home!

 Vaxxed The Documentary Movie: Now available for streaming video at home!

"Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe".

Watch the new documentary on the CDC's cover-up that the MMR vaccine causes autism.

This is an exclusive offer and the film’s official (and only) streaming option until September.

Please note that for the time being, the Vaxxed stream will only be available in the United States and Canada.

Rent the movie; once you have started watching the film, you will have 48 hours to finish. Rent for $3.99.

Please watch, encourage others to watch and share this information!

http://vaxxedthemovie.com/stream/

 

 

__,_._,___

Monday, August 15, 2016

The 7 Proven Chlorella Benefits!

The 7 Proven Chlorella Benefits
https://draxe.com/7-proven-chlorella-benefits-side-effects/

Are you looking for an all-natural supplement that boosts your energy, supports fat loss and helps detox heavy metals like lead and mercury from your body? If so, a freshwater algae called chlorella may be exactly what you need.

Native to Taiwan and Japan, this superfood is rich with phytonutrients, including amino acids, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, potassium, phosphorous, biotin, magnesium and the B-complex vitamins.

Chlorella is a blue-green algae like its cousin spirulina, and we will compare the nutrients of these superfoods later in the article.

Studies have shown that chlorella benefits the entire body by supporting healthy hormonal function, promoting cardiovascular health, helping to negate the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and aiding in the detoxification of our bodies.

Chlorella’s rich green color comes from a high concentration of chlorophyll. We are all told to eat more leafy green vegetables for good health, but sometimes it can be difficult to get the 5-7 servings of vegetables a day recommended by nutritionists and doctors of functional medicine.

While juicing is another option, it’s simply too time-consuming for most people. And frankly, most green leafy vegetables pale in comparison to the health benefits that chlorella can provide.

By consuming organic, low-temperature-extracted chlorella supplements, you can receive all of the chlorella benefits in a simple powder or tablet form.


Chlorella Nutrition Facts

As you’re about to see, chlorella is one of the most nutrient-dense superfoods in the world.

A 1-ounce (3 tbsp) serving of chlorella contains:

·        Protein—16g

·        Vitamin A—287% RDA

·        Vitamin B2—71% RDA

·        Vitamin B3—33% RDA

·        Iron—202% RDA

·        Magnesium—22% RDA

·        Zinc—133% RDA

In addition, chlorella contains a good amount of vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and phosphorus.

When you look at its nutrient density score, it’s easy to see why chlorella is ranked one of the top 10 health foods in the world. In fact, it is way more nutrient dense per gram than other greens, including kale, spinach and broccoli!


7 Researched Chlorella Benefits

Here are seven scientifically proven chlorella benefits you can expect to receive by incorporating this superfood into your daily diet.

1. Detoxifies Heavy Metals

If you have mercury fillings in your teeth, have been vaccinated, eat fish regularly, have been exposed to radiation or consume foods from China, you may have heavy metals lurking in your body. It is important for your overall health and wellness to be proactive in detoxing heavy metals and toxins.

One of chlorella’s most significant health benefits is that it wraps itself around even stubborn toxins residing in our bodies, such as lead, cadmium, mercury and uranium, and keeps them from being reabsorbed. Regular consumption of chlorella can even help keep heavy metals from accumulating in our bodies’ soft tissues and organs in the first place. (1, 2)

2. Detoxifies Radiation and Chemotherapy

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the most common forms of cancer treatment today. Anyone who has gone through either of these
treatments, or knows anyone who has, knows what a toll they take on the body. Chlorella’s high levels of chlorophyll have been shown to protect the body against ultraviolet radiation treatments while removing radioactive particles from the body.

According to researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College, “Cellular components and functions of the immune system remain at or near normal levels and are less adversely affected when patients are undergoing chemotherapy and/or taking immunosuppressive medications such as steroids.”

The university’s two-year study allowed researchers to observe that glioma-positive patients have fewer respiratory infections and flu-like illnesses when taking chlorella. (3)

3. Supports Your Immune System

Research published in 2012 in the Nutrition Journal found that after 8 weeks of chlorella intake, NK cell activity improved.

Researchers from the Yonsei University in Seoul Korea studied healthy individuals and their immune system’s response to chlorella supplements.

The results showed that chlorella supports a healthy immune system response and helps “natural killer” cell activity. (4)

4. Promotes Weight Loss

Losing weight is difficult, especially as we age. In a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers state, “Chlorella intake resulted in noticeable reductions in body fat percentage, serum total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose levels”. (5)

Chlorella benefits you by helping to regulate hormones, helping with metabolism, improving circulation, and promoting higher levels of energy. It also helps to reduce weight and body fat, and removes stored toxins.

As our bodies lose weight, toxins are released, and can be reabsorbed. It is important to flush these toxins out of our system as quickly as possible. Chlorella’s ability to surround the toxins and heavy metals resident in our bodies helps facilitate elimination and prevent reabsorption.

5. Makes You Look Younger 

Research continues to reveal that chlorella may also slow the aging process, making you look younger. A study published in the journal Clinical Laboratory revealed that chlorella greatly reduces oxidative stress, that can be caused from pollution, stress and a poor diet. (6)

The reason chlorella is so effective at giving you younger looking skin is because it naturally increases levels of vitamin A, vitamin C and glutathione in your body which eliminates free-radicals and protects your cells.

By just taking 1 teaspoon or a couple capsules daily of a chlorella supplement, you can see results in as little as 2 weeks.

6. Fights Cancer

It is believed that all human bodies at some time develop cancer cells. Properly functioning immune systems have the ability to attack and destroy these cells, before they have the chance to take hold and create cancer. A recent medical study found that chlorella helps fight cancer in several ways. (7)

First, when taken preemptively, it strengthens the immune system, so our bodies respond properly.

Second, because it removes heavy metals and toxins from our body, we are less likely to get environmentally based cancers.

Third, studies have shown that individuals once diagnosed with cancer, chlorella enhances the action of T cells helping to fight new abnormal cells.

And, as mentioned above, if cancer is diagnosed, and chemotherapy or radiation therapy is used, chlorella can help to fight the side effects and be used in addition to natural cancer treatments.

7. Lowers Your Blood Sugar and Cholesterol

Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol are two of the serious chronic conditions facing many Americans today. Years of improper eating, stress and a lack of sleep have led many to one or both of these diagnoses.

In a study published the Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers found that doses of 8,000 mg of chlorella per day (divided into 2 doses), helps lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

Researchers observed first a decline in cholesterol levels, and then the improvement in blood glucose. They believe that chlorella activates a number of genes at the cellular level that improve insulin sensitivity, encouraging a healthy balance. (8, 9)


While most Americans may have not heard of chlorella, many people have been taking spirulina for years. They are both waterborne organisms, but at the cellular level, they are quite different. Both spirulina and chlorella have a concentrated balance of nutrients shown to help cleanse and detoxify the body, and a high concentration of protein that supports energy and clarity.

In fact, spirulina has been used in the World Health Organization’s feeding programs for malnourished children in undeveloped countries. A single one-gram dose of spirulina a day can counteract Vitamin A deficiency that can lead to blindness.

Chlorella’s protein levels, and combination of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients and phytochemicals go one step beyond spirulina. When used in tandem, their powers intensify.

Chlorella’s tough exterior cellular walls are difficult to digest. It took many years of research, study, trial, and error to find a way for the human body to effectively digest it. The substance in these walls is believed to be what surrounds heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins and helps to remove them from the human body.

So when purchasing a chlorella supplement make sure to buy “cracked cell wall chlorella” because they are completely absorbable.

Chlorella Side Effects And Precautions

Chlorella can cause side effects in some individuals. Some of the symptoms include swelling of the face or tongue sensitivity to sunlight, digestive upset, acne, fatigue, lethargy, headaches, vertigo, and shaking.

The majority of these chlorella side effects and symptoms are typical to any detoxification program.

However, individuals that are allergic to iodine and those that have been prescribed Coumadin or Warfarin should consult with their physician prior to using chlorella.

How to Take a Chlorella Supplement 

When taking a chlorella supplement, there are two main ways to consume it.

1. Smoothie—Chlorella has a very strong taste and so you will want to add about 1/2 tsp of chlorella to a smoothie with banana, coconut water, vanilla protein powder and lime juice to help hide the taste.

2. Tablets—Simply take 3-6 tablets of chlorella with 8oz of water 1-3x daily to experience chlorella health benefits.

 

Eating for Serotonin - The Good Mood Neurotransmitter

Eating For Serotonin

http://drchristianson.com/eating-for-serotonin/?inf_contact_key=573b144df02405b779a15adb6149e0ffe1819a53c519133b742f63fa70f6512c

 

You know that your food affects your health, but did you know it can also affect your mood?

Science has shown us that food is so powerful that it can alter the neurotransmitters like serotonin that shape your feelings. This paper will explain how this happens and how you can eat to be happier.

What does serotonin do?

Serotonin is widely known for its role in mood regulation. As a neurotransmitter, it enables brain cells to send signals back and forth. Those signals are responsible for regulating your moods and promoting healthy sleep. Too little serotonin, for example, can make you sad, crave sweets or even lose your temper.

How do we make it?

Tryptophan (L-Try), an amino acid found in some foods, is needed for the production of serotonin. It’s an essential amino acid, which means our bodies can’t produce it, so we have to get it from our foods. [1]

Your body makes L-Try into serotonin with the help of several nutrients. The first step, making L-Try into 5 hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) depends on iron, riboflavin, and vitamin B6. Folate is needed to make 5HTP into serotonin. If you are low on any of these nutrients, you may be shortchanging your brain.

Since tryptophan is the only amino acid that can form serotonin, the amount of it in our diet is a decisive factor in the way we respond to stress, as well as the way we develop, adapt to change and age. [2]

How can serotonin affect us?

The brain-gut axis is “a bidirectional communication system between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.” [3] This means that your gut changes your feelings and your feelings change your gut. Serotonin acts on both terminals of this network, and the gut microbiome plays a critical role in regulating the normal functioning of this axis. The powerful influence of gut microbes on tryptophan metabolism and the serotonergic system highlights the importance of diet to maintaining a stable mood and healthy sleep patterns.

The wrong foods can spell trouble for our gut flora, and that, in turn, spells trouble for our moods and our ability to consistently get enough restorative sleep to maintain healthy brain and bodily function.

It also calls into question the benefits of using antibiotics, since the devastating effect on good as well as bad microbes must adversely affect our serotonergic system, and – by extension – our overall well-being.

Low Serotonin

What happens when you have too little serotonin? Here are some of the common symptoms and diagnosis that go along with it:

  •      depression
  •      anxiety
  •      sleeplessness
  •      aggression
  •      nervousness
  •      cravings – especially for carbs; urge to snack and overeat
  •      obsessive-compulsive behavior
  •      lack of euphoria
  •      worsening of chronic pain
  •      fibromyalgia
  •      migraines [4]
  •      Sudden Infant Death Syndrome [5]

Why would it be low?

There are a number of factors that can decrease the amount of serotonin in your body.

  •      Seasonal affective disorder
  •      an excess of estrogen
  •      a low-protein diet
  •      a low-carb diet
  •      chronic elevation of stress hormones – cortisol and/or adrenaline [6] [7]
  •      excessive caffeine consumption [8]
  •      excessive alcohol consumption
  •      thyroid disease
  •      a niacin deficiency (since tryptophan is used to create niacin as well as serotonin) [9]
  •      the habitual use of tranquilizers, benzodiazepines, or sleeping pills
  •      menopause [10]
  •      a deficiency of beneficial gut flora, which impacts the gut-brain axis

Obviously, since our serotonin levels depend on the amount of tryptophan we get in our food, a good place to start is by eating more tryptophan-rich foods.

But first, let’s look at some foods that can lower your serotonin levels.

Which foods lower serotonin?

  1.    Fructose

One more reason to avoid excess fructose – it can prevent you from absorbing tryptophan. As many as 1/3 of us are prone to fructose malabsorption with even the smallest amounts of fructose. If you are among the sensitive, even small amounts of it can be an issue. Even if you’re not sensitive to fructose, too much can block tryptophan for most anyone. [11]

About one third of the Western European population has fructose malabsorption – the inability to absorb fructose efficiently. [12] This problem can affect women even more strongly than men. The researchers in this particular study pointed to estrogen as the reason, since estrogen activates an enzyme that alters the metabolism of tryptophan from serotonin (happy) to kynurenic (not happy). It doesn’t help that women have less tryptophan in their bodies than men to begin with, so anything that further decreases the amount of it or alters its metabolism is going to adversely affect their serotonin levels, leading to low serotonin symptoms. [13]

  1.    Alcohol

Alcohol is a psychoactive agent that depresses the central nervous system. Small to moderate amounts of alcohol can increase the amount of serotonin in the body temporarily, which can be a problem for those taking an SSRI, since an additional increase in serotonin puts them at risk of serotonin toxicity syndrome.

Regular use of alcohol causes major disturbances in the metabolism of brain serotonin, decreasing the amount of it in the brain. It also makes the cells respond more poorly to the serotonin that is present. This would explain the link between excessive alcohol use and aggressive behavior, as well as depression and anxiety (or a worsening of those symptoms). [14]

  1.    Diet soda (aspartame)

Diet sodas aren’t an improvement, though. Aspartame’s content is about 50% phenylalanine, which has been shown to deplete serotonin to such an extent, it has been known to trigger manic depression, hallucinations, panic attacks, paranoia, and even suicidal tendencies, as well as other symptoms of low serotonin listed above. The amino acid tyrosine, a product of phenylalanine, “reduces the amount of tryptophan that can cross the blood-brain barrier for utilization in serotonin production.” [15]

Dopamine is a metabolite of phenylalanine, and altered brain dopamine concentrations have been linked with mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. The direct injection of dopamine into the brain ventricles of humans can induce hallucinations and psychotic episodes. [16]

Besides phenylalanine, aspartame also contains 40% aspartic acid and 10% methanol. It comes from genetically modified E. coli bacteria. Aspartic acid is an excitotoxin, meaning it goes right to the brain and starts poking it with tiny cattle prods. Methanol is wood alcohol used in antifreeze. [17]

Considering the bounty of healthier alternatives available, there’s no reason for us to continue poisoning our bodies with chemicals that alter our brain chemistry (for the worse). A fermented drink like kombucha – available in a variety of flavors – will not only refresh you in ways that chemical-laden soft drinks can’t, it will also add beneficial flora to your gut, which in turn can raise serotonin production and help your body heal itself.

  1.    Caffeine

I’m wincing as I write this, but even caffeine doesn’t come out squeaky clean under close examination. North Americans who drink caffeinated beverages tend not to stop at the recommended daily limits, and while drinking caffeinated beverages can increase serotonin, excessive caffeine consumption increases the body’s need for the neurotransmitter.

Caffeine increases cortisol levels, in proportion to the amount of caffeine consumed, so while a moderate amount can raise serotonin levels, more than that will raise cortisol levels to the point where your body needs more serotonin to balance the cortisol, since these two neurotransmitters need to remain in balance with each other. [18]

Your brain adapts to the amount of caffeine you habitually drink, so when you cut back or miss a cup or two one day, the absence or shortfall of caffeine results in a drop in your serotonin levels, which can cause irritability, headache, feelings of anxiousness, and an inability to concentrate. [19]

According to Medicine Plus, drinking two to four cups of coffee a day isn’t likely to be harmful, but everybody is different, and if you’re experiencing frequent headaches, rapid or irregular heartbeat, and difficulty sleeping, you should probably cut back on the caffeine. Too much is unlikely to improve your performance if it sends you to bed with a headache or puts your heart at risk. [20]

Coffee can also inhibit your body’s absorption of iron, which is a key mineral in the synthesis of both serotonin and dopamine. It can also decrease the circulating amounts of B vitamins, and since we need the activated form of B6 to synthesize serotonin, this can decrease the amount of serotonin produced, while simultaneously creating a greater need for it. [21]

Which foods raise it?

So, what can you take that will raise the levels of tryptophan – and ultimately serotonin – in your body?

Foods that are naturally higher in tryptophan include the following: [22]

Foods with mg of Tryptophan per 100 g

Sesame seeds                     882

Sunflower seeds                  752

Chia seeds                           721

Lobster                                 370

Yellowtail                              330

Crab                                     330

Salmon wild                         310

Chicken, white meat           290

Turkey, white meat             290

Turkey, dark meat              280

Trout                                   280

Mahimahi                            260

Black beans                        260

Salmon canned                   250

Beef rib eye                          230

Chicken, dark meat             210

Adzuki beans                       190

Beef tenderloin                    170

Beef, ground 90% lean       130

What about turkey?

People have been blaming turkey for their post-Thanksgiving-meal naps and general lethargy, when, in fact, turkey isn’t the culprit. Eating too much food – stuffing yourself – is more likely to be the cause of after-meal sleepiness.

Turkey doesn’t contain substantially more tryptophan than other protein sources. It’s the carbs surrounding the turkey on your plate that give the tryptophan a fighting chance against other amino acids that push it to the back of the line.[23]  So, tryptophan is a bit like the skinny kid at school who gets pushed around on the soccer field by the bullies but is a great listener and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. When he buddies up with carbs, though, the bullies get distracted, and tryptophan scores the winning goal. And everybody feels better – for a while, anyway.

Let’s look at this from a more scientific angle. When you eat carbs along with a protein that contains tryptophan, your body produces insulin, which diverts other amino acids to the muscles in your body, but it leaves tryptophan alone, giving it the chance it needs to create more serotonin and act on the brain-gut axis.

For the same reason a plateful of turkey will not guarantee you a jovial mood and a good night’s sleep, a glass of warm milk at bedtime won’t raise the level of tryptophan entering your brain, either. Neither will other foods high in tryptophan, such as walnuts, strawberries, or salmon, [24] though it’s not difficult to find articles on the internet advising people who are suffering from insomnia to eat and drink more of these foods.

In order for tryptophan to do its job, we need some carbs, and later in the day is the best time to take advantage of insulin’s diversionary tactics. This is one reason I created the system of carb-cycling in the Adrenal Reset Diet.

1/4 cup breakfast

1/2 cup lunch

3/4 cup dinner

Good carbs help because eating high glucose, low fructose complex carbohydrates helps L-try get into your brain. Thank insulin for that, since it encourages the absorption of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) but leaves tryptophan alone to do its job.

Here are some complex carbohydrates and their glucose values. [25]

Good carbs that help L-Try

Food                                      Glucose value per 100g

Spelt                                     0.84

Teff                                        0.73

Amaranth                             0.27

Kidney beans                      0.23

Navy beans                          0.21

Wild rice                               0.2

Buckwheat                          0.2

Pinto beans                          0.13

Oats                                       .1

Sweet potato                       0.57

Too many carbs at one time can make you sleepy, and while that can be an advantage in the evening, that’s pretty much the only time most people want to be sleepy.  Late evening or nighttime, at least, is a more appropriate time for it. Plus, since insulin is diverting other amino acids to muscle tissue, your body can take advantage of rest time to build muscle, especially if your workout during the day has made muscle repair necessary.

Can you get too much serotonin?

Yes, but not from foods. This is really just a medication reaction. Serotonin toxicity syndrome typically happens as a result of an accidental overdose of a psychoactive drug that increases the amount of available serotonin. When someone starts a higher dose of an antidepressant, a mild or moderate case of serotonin syndrome may result. Severe cases are rare but possible and require immediate hospitalization.

Taking a tryptophan or a 5-HTP supplement while also taking an SSRI puts you at greater risk of serotonin syndrome, since they raise the level of serotonin in the body at the same time the SSRI is inhibiting its reuptake.

References:

[1] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002332.htm

[2] http://raypeat.com/articles/aging/tryptophan-serotonin-aging.shtml

[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25078296

[4] http://www.jesusisiam.com/tryptophantoserotonintomelatonin.html

[5] Paterson DS, Trachtenberg FL, Thompson EG, Belliveau RA, Beggs AH, Darnall R, Chadwick AE, Krous HF, Kinney HC; Trachtenberg; Thompson; Belliveau; Beggs; Darnall; Chadwick; Krous; Kinney (2006). “Multiple serotonergic brainstem abnormalities in sudden infant death syndrome”. JAMA 296 (17): 2124–32

[6] https://www.verywell.com/cortisol-and-depression-1066764

[7] http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/stress-depression

[8] https://www.verywell.com/cortisol-and-depression-1066764

[9] http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/2011/the-serotonin-connection/

[10] http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2012/07/06/armour-5htp/

[11] https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201105/could-soda-and-sugar-be-causing-your-depression

[12] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11336160

[13] https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201105/could-soda-and-sugar-be-causing-your-depression

[14] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14624270

[15] http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/the-connection-between-aspartame-artificial-sweetener-and-panic-attacks-depression-bipolar-disorder-memory-problems-and-other-mental-symptoms/

[16] http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/the-connection-between-aspartame-artificial-sweetener-and-panic-attacks-depression-bipolar-disorder-memory-problems-and-other-mental-symptoms/

[17] http://www.activistpost.com/2014/03/food-for-thought-aspartame-depression.html

[18] http://www.livestrong.com/article/128225-serotonin-caffeine/

[19] http://www.livestrong.com/article/128225-serotonin-caffeine/

[20] http://www.livestrong.com/article/128225-serotonin-caffeine/

[21] http://www.precisionnutrition.com/coffee-and-hormones

[22] https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/nutrients/index

[23] https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200309/tryptophan-what-does-it-do

[24] https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200309/tryptophan-what-does-it-do

[25] https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/nutrients/index

 

 

Are You Denied a Vaccine medical exemption? Get a second opinion!

If your doctor offers a diagnosis and treatment plan you don’t agree with, what do you do? GET A SECOND OPINION!
SO If your doctor denies you a Vaccine Medical Exemption, what do you do?
GET A SECOND OPINION!

http://avoiceforchoice.org/second-opinion/

Has your pediatrician told you that your child does not qualify for a medical exemption? You’re not alone. Many families in California are being turned away by their school districts and by their pediatricians, simply because they do not understand California’s new state law.

Pediatricians mistakenly believe that medical exemptions are limited to the CDC list of contraindications, which only list anaphylaxis, coma, prolonged seizures, or severe immunodeficiency. In reality, Senate Bill 277, expanded the medical exemption criteria to include “any circumstances, including but not limited to, family medical history, for which the physician does not recommend immunization…” During his signing, Governor Brown added to the law that “the judgment and sound discretion of the physician” would be sufficient grounds for a medical exemption.

So, what is a family to do, when their pediatrician refuses to consider signing a medical exemption? Certainly it would be a noble effort to try to inform the pediatrician of the nuances of the law. But if the pediatrician dismisses the information, it’s time to seek a second opinion. Remember, informed consent must be just that — uncoerced consent to a procedure based on adequate information. Coercion is not consent.

You do not have to feel trapped. You do have options. Throughout California, licensed physicians are evaluating their patients and, if warranted, are signing medical exemptions based on the criteria established by SB 277.  If your pediatrician does not understand SB 277, find a new pediatrician.

For more information, email us at info@avoiceforchoice.org.