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Informed Choice Iowa is hosting its Empowered to Action Conference this Saturday (Nov. 16). Keynote speakers include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Bob Zajac, Dr. James Neuenschwander MD., Brian Hooker, PhD, PE and Susie Olson-Corgan. Topics will include how to work with legislators as it relates to vaccine initiatives, recent news items and trending social concerns, and new and pertinent vaccine research.

“We want people to feel empowered to have the conversations with their families, their friends and their legislators and to be educated on the topic. Getting vaccine information from a one-page handout in the doctors office or fear-driven media clips are not comprehensive,” said Shanda Burke, president of Informed Choice Iowa. 

The group is hoping to give people a firmer understanding on being pro-informed consent and to see more honesty from the vaccine manufacturing industry as well as see more quality safety studies.

“A lot of people when they hear someone is concerned with vaccine safety they automatically say ‘oh, you’re an anti-vaxxer because you’re worried vaccines are going to cause Autism,'” Burke said. “I don’t associate myself with the term anti-vaxxer and most of the people I know used to vaccinate but because their loved one was injured they don’t anymore. My concerns go way beyond Autism. The conference and the information our group provides we hope will help others understand all of the reasons why people choose to delay vaccinating or not vaccinate entirely. Sometimes it’s a religious concern, sometimes it’s the lack of accountability for the manufacturers, the censorship, there are just so many other reasons people are concerned with vaccine safety, it would be nice to talk freely about without getting labeled an ‘anti-vaxxer concerned about autism’.”

Informed Choice Iowa is excited to offer the lineup of speakers coming for the conference.

“There haven’t been many opportunities for these speakers to come together and speak here in the Midwest and so this is an exciting opportunity,” Burke said. “Traditionally these events are on the coast and so it’s great to have them in our back yard. We’re also excited to see more Iowans equipped to have these conversations with their legislators and to help them fight for their rights.”

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is an American environmental attorney, author and activist. He is chairman and chief legal counsel for Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to ending childhood health epidemics caused by toxic environmental exposures.

Dr. Zajac is a medical doctor and board-certified pediatrician. Dr. Zajac believes parents should be informed about the risks and benefits of all healthcare options.

Susie Olson-Corgan advocates for medical freedom and the rights of children and parents. She engages in work with doctors, teachers, lawyers, scientists and lawmakers to create policy change in Washington state and across the country.

Dr. James Neuenschwander has been board certified in Emergency Medicine since 1996 and was one of the first to receive board certification in Integrative Medicine in 2017. He is a fellow of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special needs (MAPS) as well as a member of MAPS executive council.

“There will be two medical doctors,” Burke said. “A lot of people say ‘I listen to what my doctor says. I do the scheduled because that’s what my doctor says.’ But it depends on what doctor you talk to and if they’ve researched the issue. These are two doctors who have researched this issue extensively and take a very different stance from most providers.

Ticket sales close tonight (Tuesday, Nov. 12) at midnight. Tickets will be available for $100 at the door. 

Author: Jacob Hall

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