A letter to Dr. Kern from the NVIC

May 10, 2004

Barbara Loe Fisher
National Vaccine Information Center
421‑E Church Street
Vienna, VA 22180

Donald Kern, D.C.
Interim President
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Davenport, Iowa

Dear Dr. Kern:

When Dr. Guy Reikeman, former President of Palmer Chiropractic University, invited me to speak to students at all‑school‑assembly, I was honored and so looking forward to speaking with future chiropractors about vaccine safety issues and the importance of defending the right to informed consent to vaccination. I often quote D.D. and B.J. Palmer when speaking about defending freedom of choice in vaccination.

When Dr. Reikeman was removed as President, I was unsure about whether my message would be acceptable to the new administration. Since I was informed last month ago that you would be calling me to discuss the content of my presentation, I have been anxiously awaiting your call. I am sorry I missed your call this past Friday.

During the past few weeks I have been informed of developments that are of great concern to me and the co‑founder of NVIC, Kathi Williams. These include the apparent exclusion of Dr. Reikeman from being able to see his daughter and son‑in‑law graduate from Palmer and also the exclusion of Dr. Terry Rondberg, President of the World Chiropractic Alliance, and WCA student groups from on‑campus activities.

The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) has had a long and close relationship with the ICA and WCA. In 1993, I was introduced to chiropractic by the late Dr. Larry Webster, a Palmer graduate and founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Dr. Webster also introduced me to ICA and I have spoken on‑campus at Life University and Cleveland College of Chiropractic, as well as many ICA sponsored conferences, including the ICA Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics.

Before Dr. Reikeman became president of Palmer, I participated as a speaker in his Quest Seminar series. In 1999, shortly after Dr. Reikeman became President of Palmer, I gave a presentation on the history of vaccination at the Philosophy Colloquium, Palmer Institute for Professional Advancement.

I met Terry Rondberg at Larry Webster's funeral in Atlanta in 1997, where Dr. Rondberg promised to pick up the torch that Larry Webster had been carrying for parents of vaccine injured children. Dr. Rondberg pledged to help us bring our message of the need for increased parental and health professional awareness of the risks associated with one‑size‑fits‑all mass vaccination policies. Because our mission is the prevention of vaccine injuries and deaths through public education and because we know that our information saves lives, we will always be eternally grateful to Dr. Rondberg for extending his hand to us during our time of need and giving us the encouragement and hope that we so badly needed at that time.

Dr. Rondberg has never, not once, let us down when we needed help. After September 11, 2001, he was instrumental in giving us encouragement and support when we organized the national lobbying coalition, Americans for Vaccine Safety and Accountability, which persuaded Congress to remove the "Eli Lilly" thimerosal rider from the Homeland Security Act. This rider would have protected vaccine manufacturers from all liability associated with vaccine injuries and deaths. Without Dr. Rondberg's unwavering support during that critical time, we would not have been able to accomplish that and protect the rights of parents of vaccine injured children.

I do not understand all of the politics involved in what has happened at Palmer in the past year. I only know that Kathi and I owe a great deal to Dr. Reikeman, Dr. Rondberg, the ICA and WCA. I know that they stand for what we stand for: freedom of choice in health care, including vaccination, and the understanding that "The power that made the body, heals the body."

If Dr. Reikeman and Dr. Rondberg are not welcome on your campus because they do not share the same values and philosophy that you and the new administration do, then I am quite sure you would be uncomfortable with my presentation. I have never canceled a presentation for other than personal health or family reasons but I cannot speak on a campus where my friends and loyal supporters are not welcome.

I regret very much disappointing the students who wanted to hear me. I pray that whatever has happened to cause this unfortunate situation is resolved quickly, not only for the well being of everyone involved right now, but also for the well being of the future of chiropractic. It is my greatest hope that someday I can once again speak on the campus that gave birth to the noble profession of chiropractic because my friends are also welcome there.

Very truly yours,

Barbara Loe Fisher, Co‑founder & President