Act Now: Support legislation that upholds health freedom by prohibiting mandatory flu shots for minors to attend school.

Our Stand

On September 17, 2020, Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R-13) introduced A4659, a bill that seeks to reinforce parental and guardian rights. The bill prohibits a government entity or school from requiring influenza vaccinations for anyone 18 years of age or younger. The Senate companion bill, S2995, has also been filed, with primary sponsorship by Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26).
Currently, New Jersey requires children 6 months to 59 months of age to receive an annual flu shot to attend daycare or preschool. If A4659 is passed into law, it would supersede the current mandate, making flu vaccination a choice — not a mandate.
A4659 was introduced to counter A4576, which was introduced in late August and makes annual flu shots mandatory for K through 12 students and those in institutions of higher education. This mandate would apply to public and private schools in New Jersey and includes adult students as well as remote learners.
In a September 15 InsiderNJ.com press release, Assemblyman Scharfenberger said he believes that “people should have the right to make their own decisions regarding medical procedures and preventative care, not some bureaucrats in Trenton.” He went on to say, “Regarding personal medical decisions, there is no room for government to dictate which course of action parents should take, or whether any course of action be taken at all.” He also stated that “Trenton, and government in general, has a nasty habit of infringing on personal choice under the guise that they ‘know better’ — when history paints a much different picture” and that “Parents of New Jersey, given the proper facts, are best suited to make health decisions for themselves and their families, especially for their children.”
A4659 was specifically introduced to protect the constitutional rights of New Jersey citizens and to stand up against A4576, which attempts to remove and further restrict constitutional rights relating to medical freedom, parental choice and the right to a free and appropriate education in the state of New Jersey.
The government’s own research shows that mandatory flu vaccination is bad policy. A January 2020 study in Science Direct shows that flu vaccination actually increases the risk of coronavirus infection by 36%, a phenomenon known as virus interference.
Your action is needed. Please click below now to send a pre-drafted email and tweet urging your senators and assemblymen to support A4596/S2995.

Your home address information is required from the legislative offices to ensure you are reaching out to your designated representatives. Your email and your phone number are used to establish connection with your designated representatives. Messages from non-constituents don't have the same impact on a legislator as messages from verified constituents, who can vote for that officeholder. We do not share your name and contact information with any third parties unless legally required to do so.

Have a question or need help?

View Our FAQs

Call to Action

On August 25, 2020, New Jersey assemblymen Conaway, Zwicker and Jasey introduced A4576, a bill that creates a new immunization requirement for all New Jersey students, including adults and remote learners. The bill would force all K-12 students as well as those in institutions of higher learning to get annual flu shots to receive a public or private education in New Jersey. This requirement would go into effect for the 2020-2021 school year, with a compliance deadline of December 31, 2020.

Currently, New Jersey requires children 6 months of age to 59 months of age to receive an annual flu shot to attend daycare or preschool. If A4576 is passed into law, students of all ages will be required to get an annual flu shot to be eligible to receive an education in New Jersey. This bill will effectively add a yearly immunization requirement to the list of mandated vaccines for ALL students age 5 and older. Even students who are in full compliance with all other state vaccination requirements will not be able to attend school.

The bill’s sponsors say the flu shot mandate is needed because “flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19, and preventing the flu will save lives and preserve healthcare resources.”

In reaction to this proposed measure, Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R-13) has introduced A4659 to reinforce parental and guardian rights when it comes to students getting flu shots. Senator Joseph Pennacchio (R-26) introduced a matching bill, S2995.

If passed into law, A4659 will supersede the government overreach of the current flu shot mandate for children 6 months to 5 years of age who attend daycare or preschool. Specifically, it prohibits a government entity or school from requiring influenza vaccinations for anyone 18 years of age or younger.

Bill A4659 will help preserve constitutional rights in the state of New Jersey. It ensures parents are able to exercise choice when it comes to medical interventions for their children, and that they can make these decisions without losing their right to an education in the state of New Jersey. We are in turbulent times; medical mandates are being arbitrarily and falsely used under the promise of better health outcomes in the state through measures that force citizens to surrender their constitutional and parental rights. This unscrupulous tactic should concern every New Jersey citizen. To preserve your rights, citizens should band together to support A4659 as a positive piece of legislation that will prevent government overreach as it pertains to mandating flu shots for minors.

Please urge your legislators to support A4659, and implore Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3) to have this bill heard on the floor.

Take Action