Iowa Bill Would Require Medical Examiners To Include Vaccine Records In Infant Death Investigations
Iowa legislators are considering a bill that would require medical examiners to document recent immunizations on the death certificates of children who died from unknown causes. The bill is one of several similar pieces of legislation being weighed in states across the country.
TL;DR
- Iowa legislators are considering a bill requiring medical examiners to document recent immunizations on death certificates of children who died from unknown causes.
- The bill's sponsor, Rep. Samantha Fett, believes this information is important for understanding SIDS rates and for health officials.
- Medical researcher Neil Z. Miller supports the bill, stating that vaccines can be a reason for death and that medical examiners may be hesitant to list them due to pressure.
- Critics, like Dr. Austin Baeth, worry the bill could signal to the public that vaccines are dangerous.
- Approximately 30 child deaths per year in Iowa are attributed to unknown circumstances.
- Similar bills are being considered in Florida, Minnesota, and Mississippi, with Oklahoma also slated to introduce legislation.
- The bill was introduced on January 15th and has advanced to the House Health and Human Services Committee.
- Data from the Louisiana Department of Health suggested infants vaccinated in their second month of life were more likely to die in their third month.
- SIDS is the third leading cause of death among infants, and the bill aims to address inconsistent certification of sudden unexplained pediatric deaths.
- The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has acknowledged links between vaccines and infant death in some cases, awarding compensation to families.
- Wayne Rohde believes the bill would foster honest communication about infant death causes.