Some of you may have heard the news, here are the full details!
 
The relentless calls and emails from the members and followers of Hoosiers for Medical Liberty FORCED the Indiana State Legislature to include language to prohibit the state or local government from issuing a vaccine passport program. We are so grateful for the efforts of all those calling on behalf of Medical Liberty! 
Throughout the legislative season your persistent voice was undeniable. You have worked so hard and it shows. From our start with SB74 all the way through multiple amendments late in session you continued to persevere with calls to various legislators. They knew you were not going to cease until they took action. You must acknowledge that YOU were the key to this success through calls, emails, and in person meetings. Please take pride in this feat because the legislature truly did not want to do this!
It was interesting to watch as this all unfolded over the last two weeks. As you remember we had a couple amendments that courageous House Representative Curt Nisly and House Representative John Jacob worked to bring forward. Because of their actions the House was forced to go on record about Medical Liberty. As the amendments failed and others were prevented from seeing the light of day YOU continued to shine light on the intensity of the issue. As a result, the house tripped all over themselves to try to save face on the issue of medical liberty by adding policy to HB1405 in conference committee.
However, the last-minute effort by leadership to cover their backsides resulted in a weak policy. Some of you have already noticed a couple different flaws. This language only prevents the state and local government from instituting a passport program. It does not provide protections to ensure that you can get your groceries, attend gatherings, recreational events, or access different means of transportation without showing proof of vaccination. To say they fell short is an understatement. The bill also left out protections against invasive testing. Due to this negligence, the local and state government along with the public sector can still require you to show proof of invasive testing.
They have made a grave mistake in thinking that these mere breadcrumbs will satiate our ravenous appetite for the Medical Liberty we are guaranteed! Hoosiers, we CAN and WILL do better. They may think that we are packing up and going home, but we just getting started. WE WILL not settle for anything less than high quality and principled medical liberty legislation.
Inclosing, I just want to thank you again. Thank you for standing together, your voices joined together and made this happen. I am inspired by your hard work and Hoosiers for Medical Liberty will not rest until our rights are secured!
 
Thank you,
Ashley Grogg RN-MSN
Hoosiers for Medical Liberty
Founder

P.S. you can still sign the petition for immunity passport purge by clicking petitions above!

For the past couple weeks Hoosiers for Medical Liberty has been working to figure out a way to protect Hoosiers from Immunity Passports. We finally had our chance, and the House of Representatives REFUSED to vote on Medical Liberty though they had multiple opportunities to do so.

You may have received our calls to action regarding the amendments that Representative Jacob & Representative Nisly would hopefully be presenting. You all did such an amazing job that the house could feel you watching. They know we will not back down. In a weak attempt to appear as if they were taking action several medical liberty amendments were prepared, but they fell far short of those filed by Representative Nisly & Representative Jacob. Ultimately, when it came down to the wire and the house was about to be forced to take a stand on Medical Liberty they refused to take the vote.

If this bothers you, I encourage you to pick up the phone and tell your State Representative “I will not accept a weak stance on Medical Liberty. You must make a principled ban on immunity passports including vaccination status and invasive testing. It would benefit you take a moment to find a way to do it this year.”

That is the single best way to describe how I am feeling in relation to the events that occurred at the Indiana State House yesterday. Indiana currently has a “republican super-majority.” Prior to this year I wouldn’t have had any idea what that meant. In short, it means that the Republicans can make laws without any of the Democratic vote.

There is absolutely no reason that a new law ushering in the immunity passport purge shouldn’t have been created before they hit the streets of Indiana. Instead, the Indiana House of Representatives refused to do so. I watched in disgust as the scene unfolded. House session started at 11:00 am when concurrences were read and then recess was called. Recess was lunch and caucus. The House session did not resume until nearly 5:30pm. You have to ask yourself WHY.

So let’s break down what we saw. I will cut straight to the portion pertaining to Medical Liberty. SB325 was brought up with multiple amendments to be heard. Several amendments on the bill addressed Medical Liberty. Only two of them would be addressed.

Representative Brad Barrett (R), presented a weak amendment that would prohibit a business from requiring someone to disclose if they had a COVID vaccination prior to entry and carrying a penalty of up to $10,000. The House watched as several people came up and questioned Rep. Barrett. It was difficult to tell if Rep. Barrett even believed in the amendment he presented. I encourage you to watch it for yourself and decide if he really had any intention of defending his amendment. Interestingly, after the charade but BEFORE a vote could be taken the amendment was ruled “out of order.” Meaning that the amendment did not apply to the overall bill and it was discarded. Ask yourself WHY they waited until after they had heard all the arguments against the amendment? Perhaps they wanted to show how “difficult” or “controversial” the issue was? Who knows.

If you watch, you will see a stark contrast from the respect shown to Representative Barrett as compared to when State Representative Curt Nisly attempted to present his amendment. If Rep Nisly’s amendment had gone through, Hoosier policy would have prevented any establishment from requiring proof of vaccination OR invasive testing prior to entry and violation would result in a class A misdemeanor.

Representative Nisly was truly representing the immunity passport purge. Leadership does not want to give you the protection you deserve. Representative Nisly barely got out a full sentence before getting cut off and being called out of order. Representative Nisly bravely stood his ground, challenged the ruling, and was sharply interrupted while he attempted to share how the amendment was pertinent to the bill. It was interesting because his first line was regarding the New Albany Hospital restricting birth support persons based on vaccination status. Ultimately the rest of the house, with the exception of Representative John Jacob, decided they would not hear the amendment.

Senate Bill 197 was also on the schedule for the day.  This bill held an equally strong amendment written by Representative John Jacob. Leadership had heard your calls Monday. They knew how important the immunity passport purge was, but rather than giving Rep. Jacob the opportunity to speak or rather REPRESENT YOU, they chose to kill the bill creating new criminal law. Your calls put them in a position in which they could not stand the thought of going on record and voting against medical liberty or creating policy that would ensure your Medical Liberty was protected.

I know this was a long post. I know that it can be very confusing trying to figure out what happens down in Indy. it is overwhelming to say the least. I hope that by walking through the events of the day a couple things have been made clear, but invite you to watch for yourself.

1. Your calls matter. Your Voice was heard.
2. We must not back down and we must continue to consistently communicate with the legislature. Once it is realized that we will not relent and we will be represented the way we see fit, we will have policy.

Please take this moment to call your legislator and tell them:

What a wonderful week!
Earlier this week we pushed a call out in support of our Front line Heroes.

Last week one of our members brought up SB232.  The bill itself had good intentions. Previously our Heroes would not be eligible for the benefits and adding this diagnosis to the legislation would rectify the egregious policy. Unfortunately, there was language in the current code that would require firefighters, LEOs, and EMS to get a Coronavirus Vaccination in order to be eligible for their death and disability benefits if they developed COVID in the line of duty and were disabled or passed away as a result.

We saw the injustice in this legislation and knew it was something we could not allow to slip through the cracks. We knew the implications of this portion of the code could cause hardship and even devastation for our front line heroes. Hoosiers for Medical Liberty will not stand for Medical injustice and we will fight for the rights of Hoosiers.

Typically addressing issues like this are not on the forefront of legislators minds or on their list of things to do. Vaccination and the right to choose are “taboo” subjects for the Indiana State legislature. Hoosiers for Medical Liberty is breaking down this stigma and we will ensure that these conversations take place and are appropriately handled. Fortunately for us, State Representative Curt Nisly and John Jabob have shown that they are willing to put their necks on the line for their constituents time and time again! Reps Nisly and Jacob have consistently demonstrated a willingness to go against the grain, and stand up for Medical Liberty. It was because of their initial no-nonsense amendments that the ball started rolling on changes to SB232.  When you see them, be sure to tell them how you appreciate their willingness to bring forth such great amendments.

The work did not stop there though, Hoosiers for Medical Liberty excels in advocacy, education, and support of Hoosiers and that is exactly what we got to work doing. We were able to reach out to Tony Murry with Hamilton County Fire Fighters Local 4416 to provide clarity, discuss the issue, and the potential impact on firefighters, LEO, and EMS. We encouraged him to follow up with the legislators he was working with to ensure the issue was addressed. He was incredibly thankful for our insight and work to protect our public servants.

We already had amendments on the books, political process dictates the importance of communication with the bill author/sponsor. With the help of Rep Nisly, we were able to get in contact with the sponsor of the bill State Rep Chris Judy. He was open to discussing the issue and reported that he would see what he could do. We didn’t hear back from him however an amendment proposed by State Rep Randy Frye was filed for the hearing the next day.

We are very pleased to see the amendment be accepted on Tuesday eliminating the offending language all together. Thursday SB232 passed the house 89-0, securing the right to disability and death benefits to our front line heroes FREE of the stipulation of getting the experimental covid-19 vaccination. We look forward to future Medical Liberty wins with collaboration between State Representatives Curt Nisly, John Jacob, Chris Judy, and Randy Frye.
 
If you appreciate the work done for our front line heroes and medical Liberty please call the offices of Reps Nisly, Jacob, Judy, and Frye with a simple message. “Thank you for supporting the Medical Liberty of our Front line heroes with amendments to SB232!” You can see the numbers below.

To get the numbers straight to your phone you can text 260-286-0988 the word SB232

• If you have not become a member please do so! We still have more work to do and would love to have you join us.
• You can attend our virtual meetings the second Wednesday of the month.
• In person meetings are starting and Fort Wayne had one last night. If you missed it and are in the area please text 260-286-0988 the word “FORT WAYNE” to get reminders.
• If you are not near Fort Wayne but want to attend or help coordinate meetings in your area please see our H4ML Near Me page.
• Want more education on political tactics? Attend a FACL class, REGISTER NOW!
  • New Albany 4/10
  • Fort Wayne 5/15
  • Anderson 6/19
• Of course don’t forget to share this exciting and important Medical Liberty win with all your friends!
  

 
 
Thank you again for all your support, calls, and encouragement,
Ashley

Call the following reps with the simple message: ““Thank you for supporting the Medical Liberty of our Front line heroes with amendments to SB232!”

Curt Nisly District 22
Legislative Assistant: Dolan Monroe
Phone: 317-234-3827 | 1-800-382-9841
 
John Jacob District 93
Legislative Assistant: Evan Eagleson
Phone: 317-232-9648 | 1-800-382-9841
 
Chris Judy District 84
Legislative Assistant: Andrea Zimmerman
Phone: 317-232-9863 | 1-800-382-9841
 
Randy Frye District 67
Legislative Assistant: Rachel Swartwood
Phone: 317-234-9450

Let’s dig in! Last week our team noticed SB232 which would provide death and disability benefits for our front line public servants if they were to develop COVID-19 in the line of duty. This is a much-needed bill, we certainly feel our Fire, Law Enforcement, and EMS deserve this coverage! We did notice that if an individual declines a vaccination for COVID then they will still be denied their benefits. The clause allowed for medical exemption however did not account for a religious exemption. Nor did it provide clarity on if it was appropriate for a vaccination under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to be included. We could not sit by without advocating for our Front line Heroes!

As it turns out there is a similar bill over in the Senate Pensions and Labor committee at present. HB1515 has similar language as HB232. We want these bills to pass however the Legislature needs to address the important issue of religious freedom and the new and pressing problem of EUA. We will keep an eye on HB1515 to see if we need to take action. At this point we will focus on the SB232 because it has almost passed. If we see movement on HB1515 we will address it as appropriate and let you know when action is needed. 😊

About 2 weeks ago we were sending out calls to action on SB47 that would allow pharmacists and pharmacy techs to provide Corona virus vaccinations and the authors allowed the bill to die without being heard. The Indiana House of Representatives chose to kill the bill rather than being forced to go on record and vote for or against the amendments we encouraged on informed consent and strengthened privacy surrounding release of personal health information. (If you missed the petition please be sure to sign it and share!) Allowing a bill to die really speaks volumes, and I am going to break it down so you understand just how important SB47 is.

Right now pharmacists and pharmacy techs are able to administer the vaccinations and we speculate that may be tied to emergency orders. If that is accurate and the emergency is ended these orders will no longer be valid removing these abilities from standard pharmacy staff. As we have seen Indiana’s vaccination plan is centered around pharmacies. SB47 is a big deal because if pharmacists and or pharmacy techs are not able to administer the vaccinations that means that they will have to hire licensed staff able to administer vaccinations throughout the state when nurses and physicians are already in high demand.

They killed a very important bill because they didn’t want to vote on lawful, honest, clear cut amendments. I suspect that this bill will not be allowed to go by the wayside because of all the reasons above. I would bet that we could see SB47 pop back up in “conference committee.” I think it is important to talk about what exactly conference committee is, here goes nothing. At the end of session bills that have gone through one side of the legislature and were amended on the other side are sent to conference committee to decide what language to use. I have also been made aware that bills that passed one side of the house and then died in the other can also come back via conference committee. Either way the process for conference committee is as follows. The Speaker of the House (Todd Houston in the house) and the President Pro Tempore (Rod Bray in the senate) each assign 2 members from their side. Typically the two members are one from each party, but don’t have to be. These 4 individuals then decide if the bill will die for good or be sent on for the Governor’s signature.   

All that to say that SB47 can still come back and we likely won’t have any opportunity to push for good amendments. We will let you know as things develop and if there is anything you can do.

Do you ever feel like the legislative process is confusing and difficult? Well, you aren’t alone. I feel like at every turn there is something unexpected and surprising. I imagine you could equate it to having 50-100 cooks in the kitchen. There are so many moving parts and different directions that legislation moves in it feels almost impossible to keep up. Ultimately, that is just the way it is and we must adapt. I will tell you one of the best things I have witnessed in this journey is the power of teamwork and collaboration.  I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have a fantastic core group to work alongside. We are always looking to grow our team and invite you to volunteer!

We have mentioned in a few bursts that there are meetings coming up in local areas. Please check here to see if you can attend a meeting near you. If you would like to host a meeting we would love to chat with you.

Thank you!
 
Ashley

Hello Hoosiers!
It has been a little while since I posted, here is an update on all the recent happenings.

Please make sure that you are contacting your State House Representative about Rep. John Jacob’s amendments to SB47! We want them voted on asap.

There has been a lot of confusion surrounding SB47 and difficulty finding it so I wanted to be sure to clear that up. It has nothing to do with children providing consent for themselves. SB47 allows the administration of an immunization for coronavirus disease by a pharmacist and pharmacy technician under direct supervision. Pharmacists/Pharmacy techs can already provide several immunizations, this just adds coronavirus to that this. The bill isn’t harmful to medical liberty but it certainly could use some strengthening and that is exactly what Rep. John Jacob’s amendments do.

Rep Jacob has 2 different amendments fortifying Hoosier Medical Liberty! These amendments need to pass.

1. Stopping the transfer of information from physicians to other agencies without the SIGNED consent of the individual. In more detail: it will prevent a physician or an employee of a physician, physician group, hospital, or other health care provider from disclosing an individual's eligibility for a vaccination or immunization; or add an individual's name to a vaccination or immunization registry or contact list that is administered by: a state agency, a federal agency, a pharmacy, a health clinic or a vaccination or immunization distribution site.
2. Adding informed consent requirements to pharmacy administered vaccinations, including a clause regarding those under Emergency Use Authorization. Strengthening informed consent law for physicians and other providers including information for vaccination and Emergency Use Authorization.

It seems as though the other members of the House of Representatives do not want to vote on these amendments. The House Sponsor Rep. Davisson has “passed” on the bill 3 times since the filing of Rep. Jacob’s amendments. We have heard that he “does not support the amendments.” The proposed amendments are straight forward and clear cut. We have even heard that some members of the House have stated they are “common sense” and “better than the bill itself.” We need to make sure that we bring attention to the issue so that our Representatives are informed about this important issue.

You can also sign our Resist the Registry petition here!

March madness is here! We have a group who would like to gather and rally to educate in the area. It could be the V4V banners or using V4V signs around the stadium. If this is something you are interested in please email us contact@hoosiersformedicalliberty.com
 
H4ML near me! Are you ready to meet with people in your area who share concerns over Medical Liberty? We have officially started to launch this part of our organization. We have a few coordinators who have stepped up but we would like to have a few more. If you would be interested in coordinating a local meeting please use the volunteer sign up. If you would like to sign up for notifications of a meeting in your area you can sign up here.
 
Want the upper hand in politics? Time to take a Political Leadership class from the Foundation for Applied Conservative Leadership! The class is a day event including a light lunch. I will continue to sing the praises of this organization because it is what truly lit my fire, gave me hope, and the tools to be successful in political battles. These classes have been popping up around Indiana and you do not want to miss them.
There is a class once a month from April to June throughout the state. April 10th will be in New Albany, May 15th in Fort Wayne, and June 19th in Anderson. Get more info here. It is also my understanding that Merrillville will also be hosting a class. In addition to these, I would love to see classes scheduled in West Central Indiana and South West Indiana. If you would be interested in helping host one of these events please get in touch with me, I will help you get started.
 
Thank you again for your support. I look forward to continued success and growth with all of you.
 
Ashley

No worries! We are glad you are here to get all the updates. Last night we had a great meeting and covered important steps for moving forward. The death of SB74 was certainly disappointing but it provided us with many important lessons.
This year was the first time a Medical Liberty Bill has made it to committee in Indiana. Unfortunately, we were unable to get it through to the full Senate but we are hopeful we will see continued progress next year. We have learned plenty of lessons thus far and will be better prepared for it!

For me, it was quite eye opening to watch the Legislative Session. I never realized the way that these things happened, and it was obvious that secrecy and “back door deals” reign supreme. I had heard of “caucus” but didn’t know exactly what that meant. The political process is supposed to be one of transparency but I have found it to be anything but. Now I know that caucus isn’t just a meeting and time to chat. The Caucus is where the fate of a bill is decided in PRIVATE. When it comes time for the House and Senate to cast their vote, there is rarely diversity of thought shown in the roll call vote held within public session.  

During session one might be able to observe the difference in Democratic and Republican party lines, but for the most part it seems like our entire Senate and House of Representatives end up voting in unison! Caucus is private and information is not to leave those meetings. All debates, serious discussion, and deals are done within Caucus. How are constituents supposed to know if their elected officials are representing them the way they were promised? We know that we must not allow this to continue. We must break the cycle and be sure that voting is the result of what constituents want, not what happens in Caucus.

This Session has taught us the lay of the land. Even without getting a vote we have been able to see who is dedicated to Medical Liberty and who doesn’t seem to be ready to live up to their commitments. We have been so impressed by the way that WE THE PEOPLE have stepped up into their role in politics. We MUST continue this. It is our responsibility to communicate effectively with our legislators before, during and after Legislative season.  We must also make sure that we hold elected officials accountable for the choices they make in representing us. However, accountability is difficult when decisions are made in secret and everyone votes the same in public.

One way we can learn how to combat this is through using techniques learned through The Foundation for Applied Conservative Leadership. It is my personal goal to have 6-10 classes here in Indiana this year. We have already had one in January where around 30 activists were trained. February will offer another and a third this year in March. Hosting a class is easy and I would love to help you host one in your area! I am specifically looking for Western Indiana, Southern Indiana, and South of Indy! I will keep Indiana classes updated on our website so that you can keep an eye on new developments.  I look forward to seeing you at one of the classes!

Moving forward this year our mission must focus on educating the public about Religious Exemptions provided by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Federal Religious Exemptions were used by legislators as an excuse to not push forward SB74. Unfortunately, history has shown that these are not upheld by employers. We shared that information along with EEOC’s refusal to defend the Religious Exemption. We have a Religious Exemption on the site for vaccines and encourage people to use this.  We encourage people to report when employers deny this. We have developed a new page to report these instances. We will be able to use aggregate data from these submissions to fight our case again next year. Please make sure you are sharing with your friends.

We encourage you to network with your coworkers who do not want the vaccine, work together, and agree to stand together when employers threaten termination. We also want to make sure that EVERYONE in this situation contacts ICAN for help. In order to obtain this potential assistance, please email ICAN at freedom@icandecide.org and provide a copy of the written notice from your school or employer stating that the COVID-19 vaccine is required.

To move forward we have developed committees so that everyone who is able to get involved can find their place.  We have a new page for this as well. You will be able to see each of the committees and sign up for one here. The growth of our organization is dependent on these committees. I look forward to meeting with you!
Finally, we will be having monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 8:30pm EST, you can register here.

This blog was WAY longer than I had anticipated and I commend you if you have made it this far without nodding off to sleep 😉.  I hope you have a wonderful week and once again, thank you for all you do.
 
Ashley

I want to take a moment to thank all of you for the hard work you have put into SB74. I have been amazed to see the way that everyone has united and come together. Indiana’s Medical Liberty movement has never seen so many people working together for this goal. You have played a key role in that. Please do not underestimate how important your presence is.

I have been getting a lot of questions about SB74 and if it is dead. I continue to stand in the truth that SB74 is not dead until it is voted down OR until February 18th passes. At this point I am not confident that Senator Boots will change his mind in time for that. If SB74 is not on the schedule for Wednesday Feb 17th by Monday, then it is safe to say that it will die on February 18th.

So then the question arises, do we continue to make phone calls? I am going to continue this weekend and potentially Monday. First of all Boots *might* come to his senses before Monday and decide to take a vote. I don’t really feel that he will, but at a minimum these calls will be letting him know how upset Indiana is regarding his neglect of this important issue.

Call Boots and Bray and say “Send SB74 to the full senate. It is the right thing to do!”

Phil Boots 317-234-9054
Rodrick Bray 317-232-9416

You can also call this weekend and have a little fun. The first person to text me back at 260-286-0988 telling me that either Boots or Bray’s mailbox is full will win a special gift from me.

We will be hosting a meeting this coming Wednesday to discuss our plans moving forward. This job is not done. If SB74 is not heard on Wednesday does NOT mean we go home with our tail between our legs. We have set out to provide protection to Hoosiers, just because the state Legislature has failed the people doesn’t mean we have. Our choices here on out will define our success, not what legislation has been passed.

Please be sure to register for this VIRTUAL meeting and bring a notebook!
When: Feb 17, 2021 08:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkfuqsqzkoHtaJjVUxUezglovigaoPkvTY
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The last couple weeks have shown considerable growth for Hoosiers for Medical Liberty. Membership is nearing 250 and our petition has about 2400 signatures. Showing our strength in numbers is one of the most important things we can do for the movement and you play a huge role in that.
 
Each time you share the organization and our mission you are making ripples throughout Indiana. Before we know it our membership will be in the thousands. Keep up the good work and make sure you are telling your friends about the petition and how to become members. We have made it affordable for all families at $10 a year with other options for those who feel called to donate more.

Ready to learn more so you can be even more effective in future battles with the legislature? I know that this task can seem daunting, especially with all that is going on right now. I invite you to join me for one of the FACL classes here in Indiana. There are two classes coming up at the end of this month. Please go check out the website for dates and then hop over to the registration page and secure your seat!

I have had several people forward me a link to the vaccines revealed docuseries on COVID asking me to forward it on. I have seen that it has been censored quite a bit on social media, which is no real shock. Right now, they are showing the episodes for free, one each day. There are a total of 9 episodes, I am pretty sure that they replay them for free again after the initial run so don’t worry if you have missed a couple episodes. I have not been able to watch, but look forward to seeing what all is shared. I hope you find it useful.

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.
Ashley

It has been a long couple weeks, hasn’t it! Getting a bill passed is kind of like a relay race. First leg, Senate Committee, second is the full Senate, third will be House Committee, and finally fourth will be the full House. We are nearing the end of the first leg for SB74 and it must be heard in committee before February 18th. A committee report will need to be completed and then it can go to the full Senate. If you remember from early on we discussed how there are a lot of moving parts to all of this. I know it can get confusing, because I would be lying if I didn’t say there have been a few times that I had to check my resources to see what was going on, where we were, and what to do next.
 
With the end of this leg coming up quick Senator Boots MUST give SB74 a hearing AND vote this or next week. If he does not, the bill will truly be dead. I am not sure if you were able to catch the facebook post from Saturday morning but it outlined the next steps. Mostly adding back in calls to the pensions and labor committee. (Text (260) 286-0988; refresh)
 
The short of it is that Senator Boots has stated that the Senators who have told us they support the bill as it is have not communicated their position to him. It is now our job to make sure they keep their commitment or remind Senator Boots of where they stand.
 
There has been discussion within the movement of amendments and how to get the bill moving. As we saw in the first hearing ANY committee member can bring amendments forward. IF the committee chair allows a vote, they will be heard. In all reality they can do whatever they want with it.  The point of this is to say that any of these members can offer up amendments at any time, but they cannot be voted on until Senator Boots has hearing and TAKES A VOTE. Senator Boots did not hold committee last week and doesn’t have a committee meeting on the schedule for this week. He still has time to call committee and vote on SB74.  Skipping this week and last there must not be anything else pressing that would prohibit time being spent where constituents want it; on SB74. If he wants constituents to quit calling all he has to do is take it to a vote!
 
Ultimately, we need to be calling Senator Boots along with the rest of the Pensions and Labor Committee. Senators must be true to their word. If you were told by a particular committee member that they support the bill they need to be first on your list of calls. A text was sent out to everyone on our list this morning, please be sure to make those calls today. We have done a great job thus far, let’s drive it home!


For those getting a little weary, keep faith!

If you are feeling a little frustrated and wondering how you can be more effective while fighting for your liberties? Here is your answer: Foundation for Applied Conservative Leadership! A year ago I was coming out of apathy, I was recognizing that I had to do something or else our Medical Liberty would soon be gone. I attended the Political Leadership Course on Feb. 1st, 2020.  You read that right, just a year ago. It gave me the hope and understanding I needed to start moving. It took away the feeling of insignificance and planted seeds of change. February 8th, I started filing paperwork for Hoosiers for Medical Liberty and here we are today. I know that my story is rare but I also know that it is very common for individuals to attend the course and become incredibly powerful within a movement. We could use your help!
 
You can find a list of all current FACL courses within Indiana on our webpage. You can also see out of state courses on FACL’s. My personal goal is to have 6-10 classes in Indiana this year. I already hosted one in Fort Wayne, there is another scheduled for Auburn, and a third in Greenwood (Indy).  We are working to get locations in Fountain (W. Central) and Lake (N. West) Counties. If you would like to help get one set up in your area please feel free to reach out directly to FACL or to myself. I would love to see a few classes pop up in Southern Indiana.
 
As always, thank you for all your support. It has been an amazing couple weeks. We have grown by at least 60 members and our petition continues to be shared! I look forward to these next couple weeks and watching SB74 roll into the full senate!

Thank you!
Hoosiers for Medical Liberty

Once again, you guys never disappoint! What a crowd today. I want to thank each and every one of you who helped out. If you were there in person or in spirit, if you shared the event and told friends, or called media outlets. You all played such a large role in the success of today.

Today's rally could not have gone any better. A HUGE thank you to everyone who took time out of your busy Wednesday morning to show up and have your voice heard. You're not only speaking for yourselves and your families, you're also speaking for the 3 million other Hoosiers who will reap the benefits of employment protection once SB74 passes. Your dedication to calling media brought three TV news stations who recorded footage along with two print journalists, all of which completed interviews.

Thank you especially to Micah Beckwith, Ali Schaffer, and Tee Watkins. I was so thankful that you each were able to touch on different and important aspects of this bill. I look forward to our continued work together. Many exceptional individual interviews were given about how this bill will affect Hoosiers. It really takes a lot of courage to get in front of a camera and speak your truth! Thank you for being courageous. Hearts and lives were touched by your words, we are so appreciative of you stepping outside your comfort zone to do that! We were able to recorded 96 attendees at the event today and there were possibly more who trickled in! We could feel the love and support of those of you who expressed your desire to be there with us.

We all created quite the buzz around the Statehouse, especially once they heard us singing the National Anthem and other patriotic songs. It was safe to say that as we sang those lyrics something stirred deep within all of us. Law makers, law keepers, and law abiding citizens were all reminded of the core principles our country was founded on. We were able to witness a beautiful moment when the Indiana State Troopers stopped walking and turned to give the American flag their attention as we started singing the National Anthem.

Filling the Statehouse with our voices was the perfect way to set the tone for the morning! Our purpose was to serve as support to the legislators who are representing us well and to renew our commitment to participating in politics. For far to long we have neglected this responsibility and that ended today. We will continue to communicate how we wish to be represented, we will take ownership of constituent surveys, and we will help keep our elected officials accountable for their responsibility to those they represent. It was important for us to share words of gratitude and appreciation for the Senators who support SB 74 and continue to rally support from their peers. Senate bill 74 simply has to much support to die. It is bipartisan and is backed by thousands of constituents who have continued calling the Statehouse day after day, urging Senator Boots to schedule SB74 for a vote. Senator Boots is the only thing standing in the way of progress. All he has to do is give SB74 its rightful vote.

If you have photos of the event today please share them on our Facebook page or on your own social media accounts, using the hashtags #h4ml, #SB74 and #INLegis. You may also email photos along with links to press articles to contact@hoosiersformedicalliberty.com We appreciate your help in collecting them!

Again we thank you for your participation in all the success over the past couple weeks. Please stay the course with us and have faith that this is NOT over. Thank you to everyone who joined us today, who shared stories with us, who shared worries with us, and for all who sang with us! What a beautiful, peaceful demonstration of your intensity of support for SB 74.

Next Steps:
1. Senators Bray and Boots need to keep hearing from you. I am sure you are a pro by now. If not there is no time like the present. ;)
Senate Leader Rodric Bray 317-232-9416
Committee Chair Senator Phil Boots 317-234-9054

2. If you haven't called your own legislators to schedule meetings, please do so. Schedule with both your Senator and House Representative.  If you need some help with this you can download our step by step instructions here.

3. Go tell 3 friends about our petition, membership, and success! Our growth depends on your word of mouth, so please take a moment to do this.  You can also score some merch, check out the details here.

I want everyone to PAUSE calls to the Pensions and labor committee! We have heard from more than one committee member that they are just as frustrated as we are and that their hands are tied.

Time to put the pressure squarely where it belongs: on Senate Leadership. They are the only ones who can change this. Please continue your calls to Senators Bray and Boots (phone numbers below). We will refocus some of our energy and start bringing media coverage to the importance of this issue.
We ask that you spend the next week calling news stations and letting them know how infuriating it is that SB74 has been held hostage in committee. It is important that you share with the media that the bill has bipartisan support and a total of 9 authors.

We will provide Indianapolis contacts and ask that you contact your local stations, as well. They may be able to get video coverage from Indy affiliates of our Wednesday February 3rd Statehouse event.

I just want to remind everyone of our event TOMORROW. We will start at 10 am so please be inside the statehouse and ready to go. This event is to show our Legislators support. Behavior is to reflect that. We will treat the Statehouse with respect; no moving furniture or littering. Treat ALL persons with the integrity and respect that you wish to be represented with. I don't feel this is necessary for this group but feel like these words of affirmation are needed.

Now the details:
Senate Leader Rodric Bray 317-232-9416
Committee Chair Senator Phil Boots 317-234-9054
To tell them to stop holding SB74 hostage.

Next Call the media with the following information: Please provide coverage for Senate Bill 74, an important worker’s rights bill. It is infuriating that SB74 has been held hostage in committee. We have been told to stop calling legislators on this bill because phones were ringing every minute. This bill has bipartisan support AND a total of 9 authors. Constituents will be down at the Statehouse by 10am Wednesday Feb 3rd to show their support for SB74.

WRTV6: (317) 262-1440
WishTV8: 317-931-2222
WXIN-TV: 317-632-5900
WTHR13: 317-636-1313
IndyStar: tony.cook@indystar.com
https://static.indystar.com/en/submitletter/
Remember to call your local stations as well.

Again, text the number above for a list of clickable numbers.

Thank you!

New here?

Welcome! We have loved seeing the growth in membership we have experienced over the last couple weeks. Let’s get a quick review! SB74 is a bill authored by Senator Dennis Kruse to prohibit employers from taking negative action on employees or prospective employees who decline a required vaccine. Indiana for Medical Freedom, Indiana Health Choice Coalition, and Hoosiers for Medical Liberty brought the legislation to Senator Kruse in October after watching unprecedented mandates in Indiana.

Scott’s Miracle-Grow, Indiana University, and Purdue University had made the flu vaccine mandatory for its employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Logic would dictate that once a COVID vaccine became available, it would be mandated by many more employers. The medical freedom groups in Indiana felt it was a priority to protect Hoosier employment this legislative season.

SB74 was assigned to the Pensions and Labor Committee and its first reading was Wednesday January 13th, when over 60 people showed up to support SB74. We are so proud of the medical freedom community for the way they have continued to let their voices be heard! The following week, the State house was closed the due to concerns over potential protests after the Presidential inauguration. Senator Boots set the schedule as the chair of pensions and labor committee and chose to hear SB361, regarding eyelash extensions instead of SB74. Does he feel eyelash extensions are more important than Hoosier rights? SB74 will impact the workforce and economy far more significantly than eyelash extension specialists. Yesterday Senator Boots informed us that he has unilaterally decided that SB74 is not worth taking a vote on. SB74 is worth it! He along with 3 other members of the committee have signed on as Authors/Co-authors of the bill.  SB74 has a total of 9 senators on the bill and bipartisan support.

Senator Rodric Bray has been quoted stating that SB74 is the right thing to do and yet somehow Senator Boots doesn’t feel that there is enough support for SB74, or is it that he just doesn’t want to have to go on record?

SB74 is important for many reasons. First and foremost, the Indiana State Legislator’s role is to protect the citizens. They have the duty to uphold the Indiana State Constitution, Text of Section 3:Freedom of Religious Opinions which states: 

This bill does NOT prohibit an employer from making the mandate, it simply protects the employee from discrimination if they exercise their right to religion, conscious and bodily autonomy. Bodily autonomy, or the right to decide what happens to one’s own body, is a foundational concept in medicine and human rights.

Medical coercion does not fall in line with Indiana's moral or ethical standards of Indiana as evidence by 2020’s HB1143 which prohibited employers from requiring their employees to receive microchips. Microchips can be removed, have no “solicited adverse reactions,” and do not have much potential to have long term health effects. On the other hand, vaccines cannot be removed and according to Congress are “unaviodably unsafe." Vaccines are known to have several adverse effects and long-term consequences. In 2019, a total of $225,457,657.94 was paid out by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Is there such a program for microchips?

SB74 will also provide protections for an employee whose employer ignores the law and fires them anyway.  Some might try to argue that Indiana is an “at will” state and therefor restrictions on the employer should be limited. We learned about the microchip bill above and Indiana also has the “Right to Work” bill that passed without any upheaval from the Chamber of Commerce in Indiana. The Right to Work bill prohibited employers from making union membership a condition of employment.  The Right to Work bill has not resulted in increased risks of litigation for employers and neither will SB74. Statistically speaking, most businesses will follow the law. It is only if a business breaks the law by discriminating against an employee that they would have an increased risk for civil recourse. Anyone else seeing a double standard here? Are Indiana legislators unwilling to protect the bodily autonomy and sovereignty of their constituents?

Senator Boots has stated that “Some believe that federal regulations already provide protections for employees and employers.” Unfortunately the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has made numerous statements to the contrary when it comes to protecting employees. We have also seen that employers defy current Indiana Code which provides very limited exemptions for specific employees, even within the same employer. Some may “allow” religious exemptions but ask for unconstitutional proof via religious tests or letters from clergy. Victims of discrimination who have been denied or lost employment have trouble finding attorneys who will take their case. If a case is accepted, it is either a class action suit or the individual is expected to pay amounts in the ballpark of $10,000 upfront. Federal protections do not seem to hold much water.

Finally, and potentially most important for the preservation of “rights of conscience” in SB74, are minority groups who have historically been targeted for medical experimentation like seen in Tuskegee. Do these vulnerable populations not deserve the right to simply decline as a result of these atrocious acts performed right here on US soil?

We keep going! Our Medical Liberty community has done such an amazing job and we are NOT done yet. We even heard that Senator Boots has never felt more special, reporting that he was receiving calls EVERY MINUTE! We need to continue to send Senator Boots the message that Hoosiers will not be ignored!

What is the plan?

Keep calling! We will persist.  We have our play book and are working hard behind the scenes, but we need your help. Here is how:

1. Call Senator Bray 317-232-9416
   
2. Call Senator Boots 317-234-9054
   
3. Call YOUR senator and schedule a meeting.  You can find their info at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/ It will be the first person that results “State Senator”
   
4. If you feel so inclined, you may continue to call the senators on Pensions & Labor committee. If you do this please thank Senator Kruse for authoring this bill and standing strong.
5. If you would like the phone numbers of Senators Boots, Bray and others from the Pensions and Labor on a clickable list please text 260-286-0988 the word: pass

Let them all know you expect SB74 to be heard by the full senate! You might go so far as to say you expect its passage through the Senate.
These might be a few talking points.

1. When was the last time 60+ people showed up to the Statehouse to SUPPORT a bill?  
   

                       Answer: Jan 13th, Pensions and Labor Committee for SB74

1. Why won’t Senator Boots let the vote happen?
   
2. Will they support Sb74 "AS IS?"
   

                     IF YES: Ask them to follow up with Senator Kruse, Boots and Bray.

We expect to start at 10am. All in attendance are to act with kindness. More information to come!
 
While we wait on protections of conscience from SB74 we wanted to make sure you have the tools you need. We have recently seen an uptick in the number of requests for exemption forms.  We have one attached here. Please feel free to share it and this blog with friends, family, and co-workers.

As always, we appreciate your hard work and dedication in sharing information about our bill, petition, and membership. If you have not taken the opportunity to become a member yet you can do so here. We worked to make it affordable to all at $10 per year. There are also options for larger increments as well as monthly donations for those who feel called to do so.

Thank you again!

I will be updating this further after our meeting. Please download and print the worksheet to be used!

Thank you to those of you who were able to make the meeting. This was such an important meeting we felt it was important to share it with you all!  You can review the recording here!

We are working closely with Indiana for Medical Freedom and Indiana Health Choice Coalition to make this bill successful! We are so blessed to have this excellent collaborative team.

Here is a great write up by Indiana for Medical Freedom did as a follow up to our joint meeting:

If you have not seen the bill yet, the full version can be found here, or read the synopsis: 
Workplace immunization prohibition.

Prohibits an employer from requiring, as a condition of employment, an employee or prospective employee to receive any immunization if the immunization is medically contraindicated for the employee or receiving the immunization is against the employee’s religious beliefs or conscience. Allows for a civil action against an employer for a violation.

One of the most intimidating things about testifying is getting to the right place at the right time.  The meeting has a good review of where to go and the “lay of the land.” Below you can also see a map of the area around the Indiana State House. The red line indicates the public entrance off Capitol Ave. There is metered parking on the streets around the State House. The closest parking garage is marked with a blue dot and is across the street from the public entrance.

To enter the building, there will be a security check that involves putting your belongings in the xray machine, like at the airport, and walking through a metal detector.

Where do you go once inside the statehouse?

There is an information desk and the security staff can point you in the right direction to find it. The hearing starts at 9:30. The public will be testifying in Room 404, and the room will open no sooner than 30 minutes before the meeting. Plan to leave enough time that you will be outside Room 404 at 9:00 a.m. That may mean you arrive in the downtown area by 8:30 or sooner to find parking, go through security, and find Room 404.

Here is a link to find to the safety protocol at the State House for Covid guidelines.

You can fill out an appearance to testify form online starting at 7:00 a.m. on the day of the hearing. Follow this link to click the blue box that says Appearance Form.

Paper appearance forms will also be available for completion outside of Room 404 thirty minutes before the hearing starts.

What do you say during testimony?

Several people have asked this question. First of all, testimony is timed and usually no more than 3 minutes. If a large number of people show up, it may be shorter than 3 minutes. After you complete the appearance form, you will wait until your name is called to go speak at the podium. The usual order of testimony is for Supporters of the bill to speak first and Opposition to speak after, but this is not always the case.

1. Share your personal story and why you are compelled to support this bill. 1-3 minutes is a short amount of time, so be direct about how this will impact your life if your job fires you for declining an employer mandated vaccine. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, YOUR STORY!
2. This bill does NOT take away an employers ability to mandate a vaccine. Employers can require vaccines, but they must allow for exemptions. This bill ensures that workers have rights to bodily autonomy. Current Indiana codes already ensure exemptions for a variety of groups including health facility workers. This will solidify those protections for the rest of Indiana workers. We need recourse for civil action in the law, because some health facilities have not been following the current Code to allow for employee exemptions.
3. There is no current evidence that the new Covid-19 vaccines prevent transmission. They appear to lessen the symptoms but not stop spreading the virus to others. Dr. Fauci has stated that people who have been vaccinated for Covid-19 will need to continue with the same restrictions of social distancing and wearing masks.

These are a few of the main points, but there are numerous reasons that SB 74 is necessary. Having the basic human right to bodily autonomy without being discriminated against by being unemployable is a big one. Vaccines are liability free, and anyone who takes them is responsible for injury that may occur.

Most of all speak from the heart. Speak with strength. Speak with truth. and Speak up for your rights, even if your voice shakes.

Your shaking voice is a signal, it shows that you feel this issue is so important you are facing your fears and CONQUERING THEM.

If you have concerns about writing your testimony, download, and use this worksheet. Then bring it with you on Wednesday.

For those who simply cannot make it to the State House to testify (and even those who can), here is the contact information for the Legislators on the Pensions and Labor Committee. The Committee members will be the ones that take a vote on the bill. Once it passes in Committee, it gets moved to the full 50 members of the Senate. Please remember that a phone call is much more impactful than an email! Phone calls take time. Phone calls tie up Legislative assistants. Phone calls are personal. These calls can make or break this bill. If you feel so inclined you can call daily to make sure the message is heard LOUD AND CLEAR! You can also leave a voicemail if it is after hours. These are still effective! If an assistant comes in for the day and has to spend 20 minutes listening to voicemails we have done our job well!!

If you are unable to make calls emails are great, too. In fact, there is no reason you cannot do both. ;) A great and easy way is to utilize the tool that Stand for Health Freedom has provided for our use. Using this link you can effectively send out emails to the entire Labor and Pensions committee as well as a few of your own legislators!

Senator John Crane:
Legislative Assistant: Morgan Torres
Phone: 317-232-9984
Email: s24@iga.in.gov

Senator Phil Boots:
Email: Senator.Boots@iga.in.gov
Legislative Assistant: Sarah Potter
Phone: 317-234-9054
Email: Sarah.Potter@iga.in.gov

Senator Linda Rogers
Email: Senator.Rogers@iga.in.gov
Legislative aide: Cassie Anderson
Phone: 317-234-9443
Email: Cassie.Anderson@iga.in.gov
 
Senator Greg Walker
Phone: 317-232-9984
Email Senator.Greg.Walker@iga.in.gov
Legislative Assistant: Morgan Torres Email:
Morgan.Torres@iga.in.gov
 
Senator Chip Perfect
Legislative Assistant: Michael Conway
Phone: 317-232-9489
Email: Michael.Conway@iga.in.gov

Senator Blake Doriot
Email: Senator.Doriot@iga.in.gov
Legislative Assistant: Ryan Ritchie
Phone: 317-232-9808
Email: Ryan.Ritchie@iga.in.gov

Senator Karen Tallian
Legislative Assistant: Tyler Hempfling
Phone: 317-232-9404 | 800-382-9467
Email: s4@iga.in.gov
 
Senator Fady Qaddoura
Legislative Assistant: Tyler Hempfling
Phone: 317-232-9404 | 800-382-9467
Email: s30@iga.in.gov
 
Senator David Niezgodski
Legislative Assistant: Shaneé Francher-Donald
Phone: 317-232-9491 | 800-382-9467
Email: s10@iga.in.gov

As always, thank you for your support and dedication. This bill could not have come this far without all of you working along side us. It is because of you that we are growing in numbers.  Please continue to share the petition, tell people how inexpensive and easy membership is. I have truly gargantuan goals for this organization they will require more Hoosiers. Together we are more powerful than imaginable. Keep up the good work and send the following message to 3 friends NOW!

💪💪💪

Hi! Did you see Senate Bill 74 protecting workers rights? Hoosiers for Medical Liberty has been working for months to preserve your right to decline a mandated vaccine. Support them by signing the petition at hoosiersformedicalliberty.com/workerprotectionact after signing it will take you straight to the membership page, please become a member and help solidify Medical Liberty here in Indiana.

💪💪💪

Thank you again,

Hoosiers for Medical Liberty
Indiana for Medical Freedom
Indiana Health Choice Coalition

We are so excited to announce that all the work we have been doing has started to pay off! Our bill has officially been filed and is set to be heard this session. Indiana Health Choice Coalition, Indiana For Medical Freedom and Hoosiers for Medical Liberty thank you all for your support.

I have seen a few questions pop up and so I think it is important to go over the basics.

Indiana has it’s own Senate and House of Representatives where bills are heard and passed into Indiana state law once the Governor signs them. This is separate from the House and Senate in D.C. the bills that are heard there, become federal laws once signed by the President.

How a bill becomes a law… If you would rather listen to School house rock "I'm just a bill." it might be more entertaining. The same principles apply except it is on a state level.

1. Constituents bring an issue to a legislator.
2. Legislator drafts and authors the bill. (If you are lucky)
3. Bill is filed and assigned to a committee at the start of session. The chamber the author belongs to determines where it starts. If your author is in the Senate, it starts there. If your author is in the House, it starts there. Committee placement is determined by the leader of the chamber dependent on language.
4. The bill sits in committee and will either be heard or die. IF the bill gets a hearing, the committee will meet to discuss before a vote. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY! WE WILL BE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP!!
5. IF the bill passes through committee, it goes to the full chamber. THIS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT TIME! TESTIMONIES WILL BE KEY! If the bill dies it can be sent to the other side but unlikely to pass.
6. Once the bill passes the first chamber it will then flip to the other and the process starts over again. A sponsor will be decided by the author and the bill will again be assigned to a committee by the leader of the chamber. The bill will either get a hearing or die. If bill passes committee then it goes to full chamber.
7. Once passed in both Senate and House the bill goes to the Governor to be signed and then you have a LAW!!!

Everyone needs to understand that there will be multiple times where we will be asking for your help. This is very intentional and VERY IMPORTANT! As step 6 says, we repeat the same process, it might feel like we are being redundant, but we aren't I promise! There will be a whole new group of people that need to be encouraged to vote yes.

If we don't do the second part we risk FAILURE. We will be successful. We are armed with knowledge and some of the most passionate activists! We WILL be successful but we cannot do this without you.

The opportunities to testify might have short notice so early notification is important. This year that is even more of a concern than in previous years due to the speed at which they are moving through meetings as a result of C-19 restrictions. The best way to get notifications is to become a member of Hoosiers for Medical Liberty. As a member you can agree to text messages so we can send you direct and timely messages. 

**Learn more about testifying at our meeting Jan 7th!

Even if you do not think you can make it for testimony, timely alerts are important. We still need you to call your legislators. It does not matter if you talk to a live person, leave a message! If you work strange hours call when you can, voicemail is there for a reason. YOUR VOICE MAKES A DIFFERENCE! If the legislative assistant has to listen to 50 voicemails by 8:00 am the day of hearing, we have done our jobs well!
(hint hint, that is an expectation!)

We will be counting on you to CALL encouraging a YES vote. The legislative assistants tally the calls and report to the legislators especially when a bill is getting a lot of calls. Strong supportive attention can push a legislator to vote “YES.”

We are currently in step number 4 above. Our bill originated in the Senate and will be heard in committee. You are not guaranteed a hearing. As part of our preliminary footwork we have laid the groundwork to secure a hearing.  SB74 could be heard in committee as early as next week.

After it is heard and passed in committee it will go to the next full senate session. It could be the next day! After It passes in the senate it will move over to the House, be assigned a committee, and we start the process over again.

Calls do not have to be lengthy, something simple will be just as effective as a lengthy message. “Hello (Assistant’s name) Would you please tell Senator ________ that I expect his/her support of SB 74. It is imperative to the financial and emotional well being of our family. Thank you!”

Feel free to add more info if you would like. If you want to hit a home run, then schedule a meeting with your Senator. It can be a zoom call or a telephone conference of 15 minutes. Say your pleasantries, discuss SB 74 and what it means to your family, how you have seen this as a threat to employment, and any discrimination or harassment you have received regarding the vaccine. Just remember, these are real people, with families and “day jobs” too, be kind yet firm on your stance.  **They also might have concerns that their government employer might mandate the vaccine.**

Send your friend a text. “Hey Lisa! Have you seen the info for SB 74, it protects employees from mandated COVID vaccine.” When they reply you send them another text with our website- hoosiersformedicalliberty.com where they can sign the petition. When they confirm tell them about this blog post, how important, and EASY it is to call your senator. Encourage them to pick up the phone today.

Congrats!  You just completed a crash course in activism during legislative season!  How does it feel?

If you are still feeling uneasy or just want to make sure you have all the details be sure to register for our meeting Thursday Jan 7th. Add contact@hoosiersformedicalliberty.com to your email contacts because that is where the invite will come from. Sometimes our emails end up in promotions or spam.  Keep us out of there please!!
 
Thank you again!

Local headlines make it seem as though the experimental COVID-19 vaccine is moving into Hoosier nursing homes as early as NEXT WEEK! No one really knows what to expect, but we are doing our best to stay ahead of the curve, because of this we wanted to provide a little information so you can prepare appropriately.

First of all, we have had people report that the nursing homes are reaching out to family and are being clear that you CAN decline the experimental vaccine. This is great news for those worried about requirements!

This is an interesting and multilayered issue for many. I want to talk about the “not so obvious” for a moment. I think it is safe to say that being in a long-term care facility right now is pretty isolating. For some it may have been months since their families have been to see them. Before getting too anxious about the vaccine, I think it is very important to TALK with your loved one first. It is very hard to determine what their opinion might be. It would certainly be very difficult to be so isolated, vulnerable, and hearing about how this vaccine is “the way out.” I encourage you to check on your loved one, see how they are doing, and if you haven’t specifically discussed the experimental vaccine do so! This can be a high-tension topic if you are not aware of your loved one’s stance. It is natural to be concerned about them especially when you are not able to physically visit with them.

Here are a few tips for your conversation:

1. Before diving in, have a conversation! Ask what they are doing day to day, is there something funny or entertaining that has happened recently. Share about your family and what you are doing. Reminisce about the holidays, give thanks for the traditions that have been passed down, and enjoy this time with your loved one. This is probably one of the most important things you can do. LOVE your loved one. You will thank me for this later and might want to implement a 20-minute phone call once a week if you haven’t already.
2. When you are done with the conversation, start by getting THEIR opinion on the subject. “So, Mom, what do you think about the COVID vaccine?” or “Has there been any talk about getting the COVID vaccine?” and follow up by asking what THEIR opinion on it is. This is probably the most important part, LISTEN to what they are saying and try to understand their perspective. Your opinions might differ, it is important that you hear them out. AFTER your loved one has told your what THEIR thoughts are then you can ask more questions and maybe gain understanding if needed.
3. RESPECT their bodily autonomy! If your loved one is capable of making their own decisions, please be respectful of those. It is not your job to convince them otherwise. Our organization is centered around an individual’s right to accept or decline a vaccine. This does not mean that you can’t offer some information, but it really needs to be done in a respectful and caring manner. The last thing you want is for your loved one to have an increased sense of isolation.
4. Offering information should be just that. It should be an offering please don’t approach the topic trying to change the person’s mind. I encourage you to start out saying “My concerns are…” Then adding information about the concerns you have. These conversations must be approached with love and grace. Ultimately, respect the individual’s right to bodily autonomy if you continue to disagree.

If your loved one would like to decline the experimental vaccine, they should be provided with the opportunity to do so. Several people have asked about how to exempt loved ones so we thought we would provide a little guidance. 

It is important to note that the forms on the exemptions blog do NOT cover the experimental COVID-19 vaccine. Indiana state law only provides for exemptions for influenza and pneumonia vaccines. Indiana state Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and beliefs of conscious. Many individuals object based on religious grounds, and so that is the exemption form we will give as an example. You can make your own if you prefer. Simply draft a letter with the date, name of the nursing home, along with a statement about the individual’s religious beliefs preventing them from getting the vaccine, sign and submit.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email contact@hoosiersformedicalliberty.com

As always, please be sure to sign the petition supporting The Worker Protection Act HERE. If you like the work we are doing please be sure to become a member to support our mission!
 

This week parents across the state started receiving letters like the one to the right from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) addressed to “The Parents” of their soon to be kindergartners. In short, the form discusses how protecting Hoosier children from vaccine preventable diseases is of highest importance of public health and to ensure this measure is carried out certain vaccinations are required* for the child to begin Kindergarten in the fall. Utilizing a religious exemption nullifies the required vaccines. If you have questions about the available exemptions, please check out our blog post HERE.

I have received a few concerned phone calls and text messages about the meaning of these letters. Certainly, a letter like this would frighten Hoosiers who have declined one or more of the vaccines listed on the form. To clarify, all this letter means is that ISDH is reminding you to take your child in for the remainder of the vaccinations required* for school.  Simple as that.

Many might wonder what steps to take next. Some families may opt to call their provider to double check vaccination status, verifying what their child may need, and work with the provider accordingly. Alternatively, some families may object to the missing vaccinations and not want to pursue scheduling them. For the later of you,  you will just need to submit an exemption form to the school which is found in the blog post mentioned above.

Parents may also be concerned about how the ISDH was able to obtain the individual records. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to delve a little further into “CHIRP” or the Children & Hoosiers Immunization Registry Program. This program is run by the state board of health and allows physicians and other health care providers to enter the immunization records of patients.  Previously, I had believed that this was something an individual must agree to, however in reviewing the exclusion form that is not correct.  Providers and other authorized users, like school nurses, may submit immunization records without consent of the individual, parent, or guardian. You can read more on CHIRP HERE or HERE.
While CHIRP may be helpful for tracking immunizations across multiple providers some may feel it is a violation of privacy. It IS possible to remove an individual from the registry.  I have found two different forms to do so.  The first was at the CHIRP homepage, if you scroll down you will see “File downloads” on the right hand side.  About half way down you will see “User Removal Form.” You can print the form out and submit as directed on the form.

The second and perhaps more comprehensive option is on the ISDH website. You will find the same form as above in the first section titled “Forms and Reference Guides for Providers.” In the next section “Forms for Parents and Patients” you will find a form titled “Immunization Registry Data Exclusion Request.”
For a government form, this is pretty easy to follow. Fill out the information at the top and then select the exemption type in section B.  Most likely you will want to complete both types.  You may wish to fill out the form and make copies. Keep one copy for yourself, submit another to the address on the form, and then to any additional to providers.

Prior to removing an individual from the registry I strongly recommend collecting all data, printing it off, and storing it in a secure location.  You never know if you will need this information in the future and it is better to be safe than sorry.  Please see section D of the Immunization Registry Data Exclusion Request for details.

Once removed from the registry the ISDH and the public-school systems will not have access to records and you will no longer receive letters as mentioned above.  I hope this has answered all your questions about the letter and what your options are.  Please feel free to message us with any further questions or concerns at contact@hoosiersformedicalliberty.com

Today we will talk about vaccine exemptions!
This will be one of the most sought-after blog posts I ever write! Before we get to the details there are a few things you should know. Unfortunately, as you will see below these exemptions do NOT cover all Hoosiers nor do they provide adult protection against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. We sincerely hope that you will take a few moments and complete our petition HERE to protect Hoosiers should vaccines be mandated by employers. This is a very real issue and cannot wait any longer. The team here at Hoosiers for Medical Liberty is working diligently to protect your rights and we cannot do it without you so be sure to sign the petition and share it with your friends.
Once you have completed the petition you will be directed to a membership page where you can become a member for only $10 a year. This membership keeps you up to date on our work, educational events, activities, and funds everything we do! If you can afford more than $10 please consider donating more. We have tried to make membership affordable to all Hoosiers. However, as we continue to work, our costs will surpass the funds we collect through basic membership. Thank you and we hope these exemptions bring you peace of mind!

AS PROMISED: VACCINE EXEMPTIONS!
I was once in your position. Frantically searching to find out how I would be able to work without getting the flu shot or send my kids to daycare or to school without all of the “required” vaccinations. It is TERRIFYING to think that you could potentially be denied work, daycare, or school. Unfortunately, we are not alone. We frequently receive messages about vaccine exemptions and this issue causes great distress for many families across Indiana.
To help alleviate that stress we have tried our best to make this process as simple as possible for you. All you need to do is: download the form relevant to your situation, complete it on a pdf editor or simply print and fill in by hand. By law you are not required to submit anything other than what is included in these forms unless indicated. We do want to be clear in stating that we are NOT a legal firm. We do not offer legal advice or representation.
 
What is on the form?
Each form will have a place for the date, your name or your child’s name, the requirements for the available exemptions, your signature, and the corresponding Indiana State code at the bottom for reference.

What should I expect when turning in an exemption for daycare/preschool, k-12, or higher education?
If you are filling out an exemption for a daycare, school, or higher education designation you can expect some push back. That is ok. Be polite, firm, and remind them they can review the Indiana state code, which is conveniently located on the form, or they can look it up themselves. Often, parents are asked to fill out a form that the school has, you are not LEGALLY obligated to do so. Some parents will complete it to remain in better graces with the school nurse, others simply decline. Some families like to email the exemption form to the school nurse or other responsible party, this allows for written acknowledgment of receipt upon response and can reduce discomfort for those who are nonconfrontational.
You will be required to complete and turn in a new exemption each year so don’t be surprised when this happens. Sometimes schools will send home a letter with threatening language similar to: “your child is missing some of the required vaccines. You have until *date* to complete the vaccinations or your child will not be allowed to attend school.” When this occurs, you need to turn in another religious exemption form for that year or remind the staff that you had submitted a religious exemption at the beginning of the year. Another common occurrence is the request for CHIRP authorization. While this doesn’t fall under the exemption, you have the right to revoke participation in the CHIRP system. Read more about how to remove an individual from CHIRP HERE.
Each code can be found here:

• Preschool/Daycare: IC 12-17.2-3.5-11.1
• K-12: IC 20-34-3-2
  
• Higher Education IC 20-40-5

What should I expect when completing a Healthcare Worker Influenza exemption?
As a nurse, I had no idea Indiana code providing exemptions for healthcare workers existed, and I am sure many of you will be amazed to learn this as well. Healthcare workers across the state have endured significant harassment and bullying over flu vaccines and we are excited to provide some education on this exemption.
There are a few stipulations you need to be aware of and we encourage everyone to exercise their rights in accordance with this code. You are ultimately responsible for the interactions with your employer. Again, we are NOT a legal firm. We do not offer legal advice or representation. Nothing in this section must be taken as legal advice, we encourage you to seek out legal counsel if you have any questions or concerns prior to turning in this exemption.
Indiana code 16-28-14.5 offers four (4) exemption options for the influenza vaccine to employees of a “comprehensive care facility” who “have direct contact with a patient or resident of the health facility.” According to IC 16-28-2.5-3 a “comprehensive care facility” is defined as “a health facility that provides, nursing care, room, food, laundry, administration of medications, special diets, treatments, and that may provide rehabilitative and restorative therapies under the order of an attending physician.” Essentially this covers most hospitals, long term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities and other inpatient rehab facilities. Below you will see the four options you have to choose from.

1. The health facility:
   1. has written documentation from the employee's physician or other health care provider indicating the date and place that the individual received an immunization required under this chapter; and
   2. determines that no additional immunization is required;
2. The immunization is medically contraindicated for the employee;
3. Receiving the immunization is against the employee's religious beliefs; or
4. The employee refuses to permit the immunization after being fully informed of the health risks.

We have heard countless stories of hospital employees who are being coerced into receiving a flu vaccine and know it is imperative to get this information out as soon as possible. We have had reports of health facilities administering “religion tests” for those submitting exemptions or denying an exemption entirely. I am sure if you are seeking this form for yourself you are already aware that you can anticipate some push back, but again, be firm yet polite and remind them that they can review the Indiana state code conveniently provided on the bottom of the form. If you are fearful of retribution or confrontation at the time of returning this form you may decide to email your exemption form through your work platform to Employee Health Services or to Human Resources. Keeping communication regarding your exemption through email provides you written documentation of the receipt and response to your exemption. It may be advisable to print out communications at the time they are received and save hard copies.
 
Patient Influenza/Pneumococcal vaccine exemption
This is another exemption I was unaware of even though I would often send patients to health care facilities that “require” influenza (flu) and pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccines prior to admission. I don’t remember ever having a patient object; however, it was always presented as a prerequisite to being admitted. You may consider providing this exemption letter after you or your loved one has been accepted as a patient to the facility of your choice. It may be considered discrimination if a patient has previously been accepted to a facility prior to receiving an exemption form, and then is denied admission after. In many cases vaccinations are given on the day prior to discharge from a hospital and this may help you. Much like the healthcare worker exemption IC 16-28-14 offers four (4) exemption options as listed below.

1. the health facility:
   1. has written documentation from the individual's physician or other health care provider indicating the date and place that the individual received an immunization required under this chapter; and
   2. determines that no additional immunization is required;
2. the immunization is medically contraindicated as described in the product labeling approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration;
3. receiving the immunization is against the individual's religious beliefs; or
4. the individual refuses to permit the immunization as provided by state or federal law.

I think that concludes the post and should help you achieve your desired outcome. Please email us at exemptions@hoosiersformedicalliberty.com with your success stories! Alternatively, we will start collecting stories from those of you who have faced discrimination or harassment due to vaccination status soon. Keep an eye on the blog for info!

Thank you for reading and don’t forget to sign the petition and join as a member!

I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for submitting your petitions.  We have decided to streamline this process this process for you! You no longer need to use the PDF in the previous post.  All you have to do is click HERE.
 
Wednesday we will be having another important meeting in attempts to get the Worker Protection Act to be heard in the upcoming session, so keep them coming!  Please continue to share this with your fellow Hoosiers!

 ***Update*** Please see the streamlined petition here!

How would your family be impacted by an employer mandated COVID-19 vaccine?  Would you be willing to take the vaccine over losing your job? If this thought frightens you, please take a moment to write down your concerns and add them to our growing list. You can submit your own letter or use the editable PDF below.

Hoosiers for Medical Liberty is working to educate legislators in order to secure your right to decline a vaccine without negative repercussions to your employment. Will you help us?  Nothing speaks louder than a constituent! If you wish to remain anonymous, you may sign with your initials. It is important to include your Senate and House districts. If you don't know them you can find them here! Once your form is completed please e-mail to h4ml@protonmail.com.