Maine pro-vaccination PAC endorses slate of candidates committed to public health
Beacon, October 12 2020

Maine Families for Vaccines released a slate of 11 candidate endorsements Thursday, including Hess. The group selected incumbents with pro-vaccine voting records and first-time candidates who say they are committed to advancing public health policy.

“We know how important it is to have people in Augusta who are going to vote in favor of immunization and for safety for our kids and healthy communities,” Gilmet said. “We really want people in office who are going to listen to their communities, and are going to make the best decisions about schools and businesses being opened.”

How Maine Fought the Anti-Vaxxer Movement (And Won)
Fatherly, March 18 2020

On Super Tuesday of 2020, Maine voters overwhelmingly rejected the people’s referendum and voted to keep the more stringent vaccine laws. In a time when many states can’t even get a law on vaccines passed in their state — Arizona and New Jersey, for example — Maine is a rare beacon of hope against the fight of medical disinformation and faulty information that harm’s America’s kids. 

Every Maine county rejected a bid to kill a new vaccine law. Here’s how your town voted.
Bangor Daily News, March 4 2020

On Tuesday, however, 73 percent of voters opposed the referendum, suggesting bipartisan support for the law.

Vaccine Exemptions Defeated In Maine, A New Law Dividing Parents Is Upheld
NPR, March 3 2020

Across Maine, though, physicians and health organizations say the new law is urgently needed to protect public health because more and more parents are using exemptions.

Our View: Don’t be fooled by anti-vaccination Maine referendum campaign
Portland Press Herald, February 9 2020

The real question that voters will have to decide next month is this: Despite a medical and scientific consensus in favor of using vaccines to limit the spread of disease, should some people be allowed to opt out, putting the most vulnerable members of their community at risk?

When you ask it that way, the only right answer is “no.”

Campaigns begin public fight over Maine law limiting vaccine exemptions
Portland Press Herald, February 4 2020

“With the exception of clean water, there is no single preventive health intervention more safe and effective than immunization,” said Blaisdell, a Yarmouth pediatrician and co-founder of Maine Families for Vaccines, the group supporting the new law. Maine Families for Vaccines is supported by major health organizations such as those representing, hospitals, doctors, nurses and health clinics.

Letter to the Editor: Protect Maine’s Children
Sun Journal, February 5 2020

I am deeply saddened that so many of those in opposition, who are crying “religious freedom,” are fellow evangelical Christians.

Christianity does not prohibit vaccination, nor does it promote putting children’s lives at risk for the sake of personal freedom.

Governor Mills: I urge Maine people to vote No on 1
Radio Address, January 31 2020

“I supported Maine’s vaccination laws and, like every other Mainer, I also highly value personal choice. But, as your Governor, I am charged with protecting the health and safety of all Maine people, and amidst these outbreaks it has become painfully clear that Maine laws have not adequately protected the health of Maine people.”

A new vaccine law will be on the Maine ballot. ‘Big Pharma’ is opponents’ villain.
Bangor Daily News January 27, 2020

Dr. Laura Blaisdell, a Yarmouth pediatrician who serves as the campaign chair for Maine Families for Vaccines, said she was concerned that the rhetoric about “big pharma” was designed to confuse voters when it comes to evaluating what the referendum actually is.

As lawmakers debate stricter vaccination rules, Falmouth High has pertussis outbreak
Press Herald, March 15 2019

Dr. Anne Coates, a pediatric lung specialist at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, said pertussis is not a benign disease and should be taken seriously. Coates cared for a 2-week-old infant who died several years ago when she was working at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University in California.

“It was crushing,” Coates said. “So many things in life are out of our control, but preventing these diseases is within our control with vaccination, and the downside can be death,” Coates said.

Hundreds Turn Out For Hearing On Maine Bill To Tighten Vaccination Exemption Requirements
Maine Public, March 14 2019

Supporters of the bill include the Maine School Boards Association, the Maine Medical Association, and the Maine Hospital Association. Several students also came to the hearing to urge lawmakers to make their schools safer from infectious diseases.

"Schools are places for learning and knowledge,” Vazquez Carr said. “And by allowing people to be unvaccinated due to falsehoods and hysteria, we fail to express our value of knowledge."

Maine’s anti-vaccination activists have turned their sights on political office
Maine Beacon, October 9 2020

Omitted from her campaign material? Libby’s vocal leadership in the Yes on 1 campaign.

“Making vaccination mandatory is a complete departure from our founding principles,” Libby said in public testimony in 2019. “I don’t want the government anywhere near my medical decisions. Where does this slippery slope end?”

Libby also appears in photos online sporting “Yes on 1” apparel and collecting signatures to put the referendum on the ballot.

‘No’ vote – to keep state’s new vaccine law – wins by overwhelming margin
Portland Press Herald, March 3 2020

The “no” vote was widespread throughout Maine, winning big in the cities, small towns and rural areas. In South Portland, 86 percent voted “no,” while 73 percent voted against the referendum in Bangor and 75 percent were opposed in Lewiston.

No on 1 Campaign Declares Victory
WGME, March 3 2020

At 9:30 p.m., with 70 percent of the vote, the No on 1 campaign declared victory, as voters choose to uphold Maine’s new vaccination law."We have just received word that Mainers have voted to keep our vaccine law. No on 1 has succeeded!” Dr. Laura Blaisdell of the No on 1 campaign said.

This was a pretty resounding victory.

Maine’s stricter law on vaccination requirements up for a vote
Wall Street Journal, March 2 2020

The referendum in Maine comes amid fears about a new disease — covid-19, caused by coronavirus — for which there is not yet a vaccination and probably won’t be one for a year or more.

“Right now, unimmunized American children are at far greater risk of severe disease and death from measles than coronavirus,” said Ruth Karron, a pediatrician, professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and founding director of the Johns Hopkins Vaccine Initiative.

Maine Voices: Polio survivor urges ‘no’ vote on Question 1
Portland Press Herald, February 10 2020

When I testified last spring in Augusta I listened with an open heart to those many parents who feel that their parental rights are being infringed. I respect their right to disagree; however, as a physician and a scientist, I must reassure them the science is clear and the consensus is strong that vaccines are safe and effective. … As a parent, polio survivor, and physician, I encourage you to vote no on Question 1.

Maine Doctors, parents launch No on 1 campaign to support immunizations
Maine Beacon, February 4 2020

“Maine Families for Vaccines is a grassroots group of parents, disease survivors, doctors, nurses, scientists, and experts,” said Caitlin Gilmet, a founding member of Maine Families for Vaccines and mother, at the launch. “We care about the safety of our children and our community. We are united by our singular focus of protecting Maine kids from preventable disease.”

Guest Opinion: Question 1 is about protecting lives, not ‘Big Pharma’
Portland Press Herald, February 8 2020

It ends up, however, that the issue really has absolutely nothing to do with the cost of drugs, nor “big pharma,” but rather with the public health concern of the need for vaccinations. As a pediatric nurse practitioner, needless to say this is an issue about which I care very deeply.

“Maine Physicians Must Speak Out” on the Vaccine Referendum
Maine Medicine Weekly Update, February 5 2020

“Maine physicians must speak out on this issue in the best interest of the communities we serve. Our patients look to us for sound, science-based medical advice. Simply put, advances in modern medicine have made vaccine-preventable illnesses essentially a thing of the past.”

Gov. Janet Mills speaks out against people's veto of vaccination law
WMTW, February 1 2020

“Let’s not go back to a time when viruses like pertussis, the measles, mumps, or rubella were commonplace, said Gov. Mills. “Let’s protect our children. Let’s protect the future. I urge Maine people to vote No on March 3.”

Letter to the Editor: Let’s stick to main issue on Question 1
Portland Press Herald, January 25 2020

Up to a point, parents have a right to make decisions about their kids’ health, even when those decisions put their own children at risk. There are laws enforcing car seat use but we allow tanning (despite skin cancer data). Parents have rights, but when the choices they make impact the health of other children, the community has the right to take a stand.

Maine’s new vaccination law balances democracy and public health
Bangor Daily News, July 5 2019

Part of government’s job is to protect people, especially kids, from dangerous infectious diseases; vaccinations are the best tool science has found to do that. We’ve known for a long time that diseases easily spread in schools. It was back in 1857 that the Maine Legislature first decided that unvaccinated children could be excluded from school when ordered by the local school committee.

Vulnerable Mainers pin hopes on bill to tighten vaccination standards
Portland Press Herald, March 12 2019

Bre Sanderson, a nurse, said it was a harrowing time, knowing that Ashley would be vulnerable to chickenpox, measles and other diseases that could have resulted in hospitalization or even death.

“I feel very lucky it didn’t happen to us. It’s scary,” Bre Sanderson said. “Our child, regardless of her health, deserved an education. A school should be a safe zone for all kids.”

Maine voters uphold new law tightening school vaccination requirementsBangor Daily News, March 3 2020

No on 1 campaign manager Bobby Reynolds said it was the backing of health care providers and groups representing pediatricians and hospitals alike that carried the day for their side.

“Mainers are practical folks who clearly listened to medical professionals,” he said. “At its core, this was a public health issue.”

Maine Voters Keep Tightened Vaccine Requirements
Wall Street Journal, March 3 2020

Maine voters cemented in place a new state law that eliminates nonmedical vaccine exemptions for school children.

The vote means Maine will join a handful of states, including California and New York, that are making it harder to opt out of vaccine requirements as part of their efforts to restrain preventable diseases like measles.

Mainers vote “No” on Question 1
NEWS CENTER Maine, March 3 2020

As of 10 p.m. Tuesday evening, with 33% of Maine's precincts reporting, No was leading with over 73% of the vote. 

“We will continue to work tirelessly to protect Maine’s children. We look forward to legislatures judicially and wisely putting this law into motion,” Laura Blaisdell, co-chair of the No on 1 Campaign told NEWS CENTER Maine Tuesday night.

Letter to the Editor: Vaccines protect vulnerable children
CentralMaine.com, February 10 2020

As the rate of non-medical opt outs has been increasing every year in Maine, my son becomes increasingly susceptible. Parents who take advantage of exemptions in order to skip routine childhood vaccinations have thrust real, life-threatening consequences on the shoulders of families like mine. … On March 3 please vote no on Question 1 — vote no to vetoing this life-saving law and no to putting children like my son at risk.

Letter to the Editor: Vaccine opt-outs put lives at risk
Portland Press Herald, February 10 2020

As a mother, watching my daughter in this kind of pain is devastating, because I cannot fix it. However, I can advocate for her. Voting “no” on 1 is the most proactive way to protect my daughter, and other immunodeficient children. … She deserves to go to school and be protected in the best way possible: by being surrounded by other children who are vaccinated. 

It’s about protecting the children
Sun Journal, February 8 2020

As a physician and community member, I urge everyone to vote “no” on this referendum in order to protect our community, especially the immuno-compromised people who are attending schools or receiving health care.

Vaccines save lives. They prevent outbreaks of what can be devastating illnesses. There is overwhelming evidence that they are safe and effective.

Letter to the Editor: An Appeal to Protect Our Community
Fiddlehead Focus, February 3 2020

Now, as these diseases are making a comeback, I worry about my vulnerable patients — those too young or sick to be vaccinated and those who are in treatment for diseases like cancer and cannot be vaccinated. 

Letter to the Editor: Vote No on Question 1
Bangor Daily News, January 29 2020

Unfortunately, if Question 1 passes this March, health care workers and school children will be able to forgo needed vaccinations. That’s why this nurse says: get your vaccinations and please vote no on Question 1 on March 3 to protect our community from dangerous, preventable diseases.

Letter to the Editor: Vaccine Law Supports Wellbeing of Children
Bangor Daily News, December 20 2019

The Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) is a public policy, nonprofit promoting sound policies and best practices to improve the lives of children and families in Maine. The MCA collects and reviews data on Maine children to advise and advocate for their well-being. Our board is comprised of professionals and experts on children. And we stand in support of the vaccine law signed in May, which allows only for medical exemptions.

Vaccine Law Targeted in Potential Maine Ballot Question
The Wall Street Journal, September 9 2020

In Maine, health authorities have raised alarms about school children missing vaccinations at a growing pace. Among kindergartners, the state’s vaccination-exemption rate has reached 6.2%, the highest level in 10 years of tracking data and above national levels in recent years, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in April.

Advocates think bill to end most exemptions from childhood vaccinations has a shot
Portland Press Herald, January 18 2019

Caitlin Gilmet, 38, of Portland said her infant son, Thomas, contracted chickenpox at a day care last spring when he was 5 months old, before he was old enough to be vaccinated.

“Chickenpox can be deadly in infants, so it was really scary,” said Gilmet, who took Thomas to an urgent care center because he was having difficulty breathing. “I was really worried about him.”