May 31, 2023
To: New Jersey Department of Health
Re: NJ United Medical Professionals Comments on NJDOH Proposed Revisions to N.J.A.C. 8:57
As a group of doctors and various healthcare professionals, we are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed changes by the New Jersey Department of Health. We believe that these changes will have a detrimental impact on individualized care and the doctor-patient relationship.
One of our main concerns is the proposal to mandate COVID-19, FLU & HPV vaccines for ALL NJ Students K-12 to attend school, which would undermine the principle of individualized care. We believe that healthcare decisions should be based on the unique needs and circumstances of each patient, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Mandating these vaccines for all students takes away individualized care and the right of parents to make informed decisions about their children’s healthcare based on their own beliefs and values.
Furthermore, the proposal to expand the reporting requirements to all practitioners who administer vaccines to children under 18 would lead to a loss of individualized care and the erosion of the doctor-patient relationship. The expansion would require practitioners to report all vaccines administered to the NJ vaccine registry (NJIIS) without parental consent, which is a violation of patient privacy and the trust between the patient and the physician.
We also oppose the proposal to allow ALL private schools to REQUIRE ANY vaccinations they choose going forward, as it infringes on personal and parental choice. Parents and students should have the right to choose the educational institution that best aligns with their personal beliefs and values without government intervention.
The proposal to increase the NJDOH’s scope and authority to access public or private places and records/things at these premises to enforce health laws is a concerning and vague proposal that raises concerns about privacy and the potential for abuse of power. Patients have the right to privacy and should be able to trust that their medical information is being handled appropriately and not compromised by government mandates.
In conclusion, we urge the NJDOH to reconsider these proposed changes and prioritize the importance of individualized care and the doctor-patient relationship. We believe that government mandates do not take into account the unique needs and circumstances of each patient, and that a one-size-fits-all approach is not the best way to ensure the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
New Jersey United Medical Professionals
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