An open letter to the Vermont Legislature
Dear Vermont Representatives:
There seems to be confusion on H.545. Respectfully I share a few thoughts for consideration.
There is no issue with procuring vaccines and ensuring there are cost savings and insurance coverage of vaccines. H.545 is not mandating vaccines and hopefully people are doing their research. These aspects of H.545 are not controversial.
However, as H.545 stands, this bill is highly irresponsible in that it also creates a liability shield and offers immunity to healthcare providers for, “immunization-caused adverse events.”.
How can one offer a liability shield for healthcare providers administering a product that holds risks and has caused injury, harm and death without ensuring informed consent to patients?
$5,530,623,153.83
This is the amount paid since 1988 to those who have been injured by or lost loved ones because of a vaccine. This is paid by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation program, established by the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act.
HRSA Data and Statistics 09012025
Vermont has existing informed consent laws yet there is no standard process, training or paperwork to guarantee that this critical practice of informed consent occurs.
This was the entire point of the Burtt amendment. It balanced the transaction between provider and patient in H.545 by guaranteeing informed consent.
The Burtt amendment required a process involving written information regarding benefits and risks of immunizations to be discussed between provider and patient. This can easily be a vaccine package insert which contains the clinical trial research and adverse events in section 6, as mandated by federal law. It also included a disclosure statement for the patient to understand that the provider offering the immunizations was shielded from liability. Finally, the patient would sign a form attesting that they received informed consent prior to their decision to refuse or accept the immunization.
If immunity is offered to providers, then how is the patient protected or supported in this relationship? Currently in H.545, THEY ARE NOT. This is deeply troubling, irresponsible and unaccountable legislation.
This is not how you take care of the people of Vermont. The misinformed advice offered and the false narrative created around existing informed consent laws does not rectify the inherent inequity in H.545.
This is not partisan or political, it is about acknowledging the reality of vaccine injury and creating an opportunity for honest transparency and best possible outcomes for both parties. H.545 does not pass the test.
How many times have you been told vaccines are “safe and effective”?
Do you receive informed consent at the Doctor’s when you receive a vaccine? Do they explain the benefits and risks prior to administering vaccine?
Are you told that flu vaccines have mercury, a known neurotoxin, in them?
Let’s look at the issues around Recombivax Hepatitis B vaccine routinely given to babies on the first day of life.
Recombivax was licensed in 1986 by the Food and Drug Administration after pharmaceutical companies were granted immunity from any harms, death and damage caused by their vaccines in the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. Yes- Big Pharma was shielded and has no liability for the safety of their vaccine products. No other product has this protection.
First genetically modified virus used in a vaccine
Contains 250mcg of aluminum, a known neurotoxin, at a level 14 times higher than the allowable amount of aluminum in intravenous parenteral nutrition for an 8-pound baby.
Studied for 5 days with 147 children up to 10 years of age prior to licensure.
October 12, 2017- Informed Consent Action Network sent a letter to HHS requesting the Hepatitis B safety data ICAN-HHS-Notice-1.pdf
January 18, 2018 received a letter from HHS and FDA which failed to provide further clinical trial safety data Review-Copy.pdf
Two more letters were submitted requesting the safety data. ICAN-Reply-1.pdf and ignored
ICAN submitted a FOIA demanding a copy of the clinical trials relied upon to license Recombivax HB
Received a 1264 page document confirming the vaccine was only reviewed for a few days post injection
FDA has refused to respond to further requested clinical trials data
On September 4, 2020, Informed Consent Action Network filed a petition to the FDA “demanding that the licensure of the Hepatitis B vaccines be revoked or suspended until their safety, as required by law, is determined in a properly designed clinical trial of sufficient duration.” Petition-Hep-B-FINAL.pdf
Duration of Pediatric Clinical Trials Submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration – PMC
There is a real reason the current vaccine schedule is being reevaluated.
The Burtt amendment was essential to complete the circle of justice and transparency. It offered a higher standard of health policy to be codified in statute
Also, you should meet Kaylynne Matten but sadly she died at the age of 7 from myocarditis triggered by a Fluzone vaccine containing mercury, at a “wellness visit”. Kaylynne’s Mom, Nicole Matten shared testimony in 2015 stating
“I was not told that vaccines can cause injuries or death, I was only told the shot would keep her healthy—but that was not the case.”
“Pediatricians are denying that these things happen and if you ask me, doctors need to be better educated on adverse reactions of vaccines. They should also have to accept liability if the shot they give causes harm like it did for Kaylynne. They would give better information if they had to be responsible for their recommendations.”
“Any and all vaccines should be subject to informed consent and full disclosure and exemptions (the right to say no) should always be available, since there is a risk.”
More than a decade later, Nicole Matten received the highest payout of $250,000 from the special vaccine court for the death of her child. Can you imagine? Heartbreaking
The American Academy of Pediatrics mentions sharing Vaccine Information Statement (VISs) to provide informed consent.
For decades the CDC has stated,
“People sometimes use the term “informed consent” loosely when referring to VISs. VISs are written to fulfill the information requirements of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, not as informed consent forms.”
“Some states have informed consent laws, covering either procedural requirements (e.g., whether consent may be oral or must be written) or substantive requirements (e.g., types of information required).”
VIS Frequently Asked Questions | Vaccines & Immunizations | CDC
Vaccine Information Statement: Hepatitis B Vaccine – What you need to know
Vermont needs informed consent laws with procedural requirements and substantive requirements
H.545 should be remanded back to committee to fix the inequality that pervades this legislation. It is unfair to all Vermonters to let it pass as is.
Of note is that the American Academy of Pediatrics is being sued. Children’s Health Defense filed suit on January 21, 2026, stating
“This complaint is brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. §§ 1962(c) and (d), against the American Academy of Pediatrics (“AAP”) for its central role in an enterprise that has defrauded American families about the safety of the childhood vaccine schedule for several decades.”
“The fraud set out hereinafter affects the U.S. childhood vaccine market, which one estimate puts at $15.08 billion in 2024. The vaccine schedule has expanded from 11 doses targeting four diseases in 1983, to over 72 doses targeting 18 diseases (until recent action by the government discussed below). This expansion dramatically accelerated after the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 granted manufacturers immunity from liability, allowing unfettered growth of the childhood immunization schedule, and transforming AAP into a co-beneficiary of the vaccine enterprise.”
Legislators must fix H545 and demand a process to ensure a meaningful and substantial procedure for informed consent for all patients, especially if providers are receiving a liability shield for any harms caused by these products.
Respectfully and gratefully
Alison Despathy
My full testimony is linked here
