Georgia Law Authorizes Mandatory Vaccinations

Radio Commentary, WMVV 90.7 New Life FM, October 23, 2009
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. Many Georgians might be stunned to learn about a 2002 law that passed when Roy Barnes was governor. It was S.B. 385 that gave the governor unconstitutional emergency powers that are excessively restrictive. Under a declared emergency, the governor will have totalitarian power to bring everything under his control, including public and private property, health and medical facilities, medication, vaccinations, food, clothing, firearms, etc.

Dr. Jane Orient of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons said, “State authorities would be virtually immune from accountability for the death, economic destruction and general havoc they might cause.” That’s one reason I fought the passage of S.B. 385 seven years ago.

This is the story. To get it passed in 2002, Senator Thompson, the governor’s floor leader and author of the bill, said religious grounds could be used to exempt folks from forced vaccinations. However, he left out this fact. Religious exemptions will be cancelled during declared health emergencies. He, also, said the opinion of doctors would be considered before shots are given, if the vaccine might compromise the patient’s health. But again, he failed to mention that a doctor’s opinion would not be the deciding factor. A “trial court” appointed by the Public Health Department would decide what to do with folks that won’t comply.

If an emergency were to be declared, the law may be implemented whether or not the disease is an active threat or a perceived threat. In that case, everyone would be subject to medical exams, vaccinations and quarantines, with or without consent, even without an actual threat or actual exposure to a dangerous disease.

Though the swine flu is said to be no more dangerous than the ordinary flu we deal with every year, international pressure and man-made hysteria might force special emergency powers to be implemented. Please call Governor Sonny Perdue at 404 656-1776* and ask him to rescind the dictatorial powers Georgia law gives him over our health care. Otherwise, we’ll be at the mercy of public health officials and a Public-Health-appointed court that will decide our medical fate in declared emergencies. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol Correspondent.